Transfer Talks Progressing Between Barcelona & Athletico Paranaense for Vitor Roque

Vitor Roque may be headed to Europe soon…

Talks between Barcelona and Brazil’s Athletico Paranaense over the transfer of the 18-year-old Brazilian forward are progressing well, according to ESPN.

Vitor Roque,Barca are in the market for a backup striker to Robert Lewandowski and have turned their attention to Roque, with new sporting director Deco leading the negotiations.

Roque is the club’s first option because as well as helping take some of the load off Lewandowski this season, he is also viewed as a player who could one day replace the Poland international, who will turn 35 years old in August.

Reports in Spain suggested over the weekend that Barca have reached an agreement with Athletico Paranaense worth a potential €45 million including add-ons.

Sources close negotiations did not to confirm an agreement to ESPN but did say that talks are advancing and there is optimism a deal will be concluded this summer.

However, agreeing a fee with Athletico Paranaense is only part of the puzzle, sources added, with Barca also needing to free up salary space and room in their squad before committing to signings.

Due to LaLiga‘s financial restrictions, the Catalan club can only spend 40% of anything they save or generate on bringing in new players.

Therefore, they are not in a position to register new signings until they free up some salary space or bring in transfer fees for any outgoing squad members.

It’s for that reason Lionel Messi, who coach Xavi Hernandez had repeatedly stated a desire to sign, confirmed his intention to join Inter Miami, saying he could not wait for Barca to sort their financial issues.

Sources say Barca would also like to lighten the load in attack before signing another forward, with Lewandowski, Ousmane DembeleRaphinhaAnsu Fati and Ferran Torres competing for two positions since Xavi‘s switch to a midfield four.

Roque, who has already been capped by the Brazil senior side, is one of the highest-rated youngsters coming through in the South American country.

After starting his career in America Mineiro‘s youth setup, Roque joined Cruzeiro in 2021, making the move to Athletico Paranaense the following year in a transfer worth around €4.5m.

He has already made over 50 appearances for the Brazilian Serie A side, scoring 16 goals and helping them reach the Copa Libertadores final last year and win the Campeonato Paranaense this year.

Larissa Pacheco Knocks Out Amber Leibrock to Earn No. 1 Seed in PFL Featherweight Playoffs

Larissa Pacheco looks poised to claim a second Professional Fighters League championship…

The 28-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist – who shocked the world in 2022 with her upset win over Kayla Harrison in the lightweight finals to win her first PFL title – seized the No. 1 seed in the PFL playoffs on Friday with a resounding first-round knockout of Amber Leibrock.

Larissa PachecoThe featherweight bout headlined PFL 5 inside Overtime Elite Arena.

Leibrock (7-5) went into the bout with a lot of momentum, after scoring a highlight-reel head kick knockout in the opening round of the season. She looked out of her league Friday, however, as Pacheco (21-4) bombarded her with punches early.

Pacheco’s win sets up a rematch against Ukraine’s Olena Kolesnyk in the first round of the playoffs in August. Pacheco beat Kolesnyk last August via first-round TKO.

Marina Mokhnatkina earned the No. 2 seed and will face Leibrock as the 145-pound’s No. 3 seed.

Former UFC bantamweight Aspen Ladd defeated Karolina Sobek via submission but still missed the playoffs in a tiebreaker to Kolesnyk.

In the heavyweight division, Denis Goltsov (31-7) secured the No. 1 seed with a devastating 18-second knockout of Yorgan De Castro. It was the fastest knockout in PFL heavyweight history.

Brazil’s Renan Ferreira (10-4) also scored a big knockout on the main card, taking out Matheus Scheffel in 50 seconds. The win was good enough to earn him the No. 2 seed at heavyweight, and he’ll face Marcelo Nunes in the opening round of the playoffs. Goltsov will square off with Jordan Heiderman, who also picked up a first-round victory.

In the main event, Maurice Greene (11-8) came up short in a bid to topple 2022 champion Ante Delija. Delija, who missed the first round of the regular season because of injury, defeated Greene via unanimous decision. It was an impressive showing but earned him only three points, leaving him out of the playoffs.

Marina Bassols Ribera Reaches First-Ever WTA Final at Valencia Open

Marina Bassols Ribera has reached her first-ever WTA final…

The 23-year-old Spanish tennis player came from one set down to defeat Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch to reach the finals of the Valencia Open at the Valencia Tennis Club.

Marina Bassols RiberaThe unseeded Bassols Ribera, who defeated No. 3 seed Sara Errani in the quarterfinals, defeated Korpatsch 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the final round.

Bassols Ribera will face No. 1 seed Mayar Sherif of Egypt in the final of the WTA 125 tournament.

Subriel Matias to Reportedly Defend IBF Junior Welterweight Title vs. Sergey Lipinets

Subriel Matias is going on the defensive…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican boxer will defend his IBF junior welterweight title against Sergey Lipinets on August 26, according to ESPN.

Subriel MatiasThe venue for the PBC on Showtime bout, which is shaping up as a slugfest, has not yet been disclosed.

Matias (19-1, 19 KOs) is one of boxing’s top action fighters. He captured the vacant IBF 140-pound title in February with a fifth-round TKO of Jeremias Ponce.

Matias’ lone pro defeat came in February 2020 against Petros Ananyan, a decision loss Matias avenged 23 months later with a ninth-round TKO.

Lipinets (17-2-1, 13 KOs) formerly held the IBF junior welterweight title, a vacant belt he won in November 2017 with a decision victory over Akihiro Kondo. He dropped the title in his next fight to Mikey Garcia, and then moved up to 147 pounds.

Lipinets, 34, scored a stoppage victory over Lamont Peterson in a 2019 welterweight fight but was held to a draw with Custio Clayton the following year.

In April 2021, Lipinets suffered a sixth-round KO loss to Jaron Ennis before returning to 140 pounds with a victory over Omar Figueroa in August.

Matias is ESPN’s No. 6 boxer at 140 pounds. Lipinets is unranked.

Marina Bassols Ribera Defeats Sara Errani to Reach Valencia Open Semifinals

Marina Bassols Ribera has pulled off an upset…

The 23-year-old Spanish tennis player defeated No. 3 seed Sara Errani of Italy to reach the semifinals of the Valencia Open at the Valencia Tennis Club.

Bassols Ribera, ranked No 130, will play Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch.

Bassols Ribera defeated wildcard Charo Esquiva Banuls (6-2, 6-2) and lucky loser Guiomar Maristany Zuleta De Reales (6-4, 6-4) in the previous rounds of the BBVA Open.

Earlier in the tournament, Errani, ranked No 69, beat Latvian qualifier Darja Semenistaja (6-4, 6-0) and edged out Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo (6-1, 1-6, 6-4).

Feliciano Lopez Appointed Tournament Director for Davis Cup Finals

Feliciano Lopez’s Cup runneth over…

The 41-year-old Spanish tennis player has been appointed tournament director for the Davis Cup finals, the International Tennis Federation has announced.

Feliciano LopezLopez, who won the competition with Spain four times, plans to end his playing career after this year.

The group stage will take place from September 12-17 in four European cities followed by the last-eight event in Malaga, Spain, from November 21-26.

“I have some special memories of playing in this competition so I am very happy to be taking a leading role in delivering these events,” Lopez said in the ITF announcement. “As tournament director, my sole focus will be to build on the recent success of the competition and make it the best it can be for players and supporters across the world.”

The Davis Cup was included as an official part of the ATP calendar under an agreement last year between the ITF and the men’s tour. Attendance in February’s qualifying events was up 10%.

Spain and Serbia are together in Group C, setting up a possible meeting between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. The Czech Republic and South Korea are also in the group, which will play in Valencia.

The United States will face Croatia, Finland and the Netherlands in Group D. That group will be hosted by Croatia, although the city and venue has yet to be announced. Defending champion Canada is in Group A along with Italy, Sweden and Chile — playing in Bologna. Group B consists of host Britain, Australia, France and Switzerland, and will play in Manchester.

The top two teams in each group advance to the Final 8 tournament. A record 155 nations entered the competition this year.

Lopez represented Spain in the Davis Cup five times and helped his country win it in 2008, ’09, ’11 and ’19.

“He is a Davis Cup legend and embodies everything the competition is about — passion, entertainment and pride in representing your country,” ITF president David Haggerty said.

Lopez became tournament director of the Madrid Open in 2019.

A three-time quarterfinalist at Wimbledon, Lopez is set to play in the grass-court Mallorca Championships beginning June 25.

Inter Miami Expresses Interest in Jordi Alba

Jordi Alba‘s dance card is filling up…

Inter Miami have sounded out the 34-year-old Spanish professional footballer’s interest in joining the club but face competition to sign the Barcelona defender from Atletico MadridInter Milan and clubs in Saudi Arabia, sources have told ESPN.

Jordi Alba, BarcelonaAlba has reached an agreement to end his contract with Barca, which was due to expire in 2024, one year early and is looking for a new club this summer. 

Sources say Alba has not closed the door on any of the options and will make a decision after this week’s UEFA Nations League finals in the Netherlands, where he is part of the Spain squad that will meet Italy in the semifinal on Thursday.

After Lionel Messi announced he would join Inter Miami last week, and with sources confirming Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets has also held talks with the MLS side, Alba is the latest Europe-based player to be approached by the South Florida team.

Sources say there have not yet been any formal negotiations and there is no offer on the table, while Miami also has to consider how to manage its three designated player spots, but Alba would be willing to listen to the team’s proposal.

However, the left-back may prefer to stay in Europe with the European Championships coming up in Germany next summer and with his wife due to give birth to their third child next month.

LaLiga side Atletico and Serie A team Inter are among several interested European clubs, sources confirmed, while there are also offers on the table from Saudi Arabia.

Alba will evaluate his options with his family after the Nations League, with a decision expected to be made in the coming weeks.

Canelo Alvarez Planning His Second Fight of 2023, Jermall Charlo & Badou Jack on Short List

Canelo Alvarez is planning his second fight of the year…

The 32-year-old Mexican boxer, the sport’s top star, is looking to fight one of two contenders later this year, according to ESPN sources: Jermall Charlo and Badou Jack.

Canelo AlvarezAlvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, and his trainer/manager, Eddy Reynoso, met with PBC founder Al Haymon last week in the Cleveland area, where a fall fight with WBC middleweight titleholder Charlo was discussed, sources said.

Charlo, 33, hasn’t competed since June 2021, when he scored a unanimous decision win over Juan Macias Montiel. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said last month that Charlo’s inactivity is due to mental health.

Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) is a former 154-pound titleholder who has never competed above 160 pounds. His twin brother, Jermell Charlo, is the undisputed junior middleweight champion. Both Charlos are advised by Haymon.

Alvarez’s last three bouts were promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, while his victory over Caleb Plant in November 2021 was a Showtime PPV presented by PBC.

PBC didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

Another option for Alvarez is Jack, the WBC cruiserweight titleholder. Jack’s longtime manager, Amer Abdallah, is the Head of Boxing for Saudi Arabia-based Skill Challenge Entertainment, a boxing promotion led by Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz.

Abdallah told ESPN on Monday that “the big items are agreed upon, which is an approximate date” and “the financials” for a proposed fight for Jack’s 200-pound title in October in Saudi Arabia. Alvarez has expressed a desire to fight in Saudi Arabia and was ringside for Andy Ruiz’s rematch with Anthony Joshua in the nation’s capital, Riyadh, in December 2019.

Abdallah conceded the weight is an issue. Alvarez holds all four titles at 168 pounds and has twice competed for a light heavyweight title, but has never weighed more than 174.5 pounds — his weight when he scored a highlight-reel KO of Sergey Kovalev in November 2019.

Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) is a practicing Muslim whose last four fights took place in the Middle East. His most recent two fights were in Saudi Arabia, including his February victory over Ilunga Makabu to capture the WBC cruiserweight title.

The cruiserweight division limit is 200 pounds. Jack, a 39-year-old former super middleweight titleholder and light heavyweight contender, weighed 198.75 pounds for his last bout and hasn’t tipped the scales under 198.5 pounds since June 2021.

“It’s now just getting it over the finish line with the weight,” Abdallah said. “And mind you, that’s not a small hurdle, but it’s one we’re going back and forth on. So far, this has been the only situation and the only term that we’ve not fully agreed on. … But I’m hoping that if you fight for [a] cruiserweight [title], you’ve got to at least fight around the cruiserweight division [200 pounds] and not at light heavyweight [175 pounds].”

Alvarez outpointed John Ryder last month to retain his undisputed super middleweight championship in a Mexico homecoming. Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) was fighting for the first time since he underwent left wrist surgery in October and did so before 50,000-plus fans in Guadalajara.

In the lead-up to the bout and afterward, Alvarez said he was focused on a rematch with Russia’s Dmitry Bivol in September. Alvarez was soundly defeated by Bivol in May 2022, his first loss since his 2013 fight with Floyd Mayweather.

The Bivol fight — for which Jermall Charlo was one of two finalists to face Alvarez — was Alvarez’s second 175-pound bout. He returned to defeat Gennadiy Golovkin in September 2022 on Mexican Independence Day Weekend, one of two annual dates Alvarez routinely reserves (the other is Cinco de Mayo Weekend).

Bivol told ESPN on Friday that the rematch with Alvarez is not happening in September, saying, “If you want to fight only me, just connect with our team and ask us about the fight.” Instead, Bivol said he would stay busy with a fall fight and target Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.

Leading up to the Ryder fight, Alvarez insisted on a rematch with Bivol taking place at 175 pounds, while Bivol said he was only interested in a return bout at 168 pounds for Alvarez’s four titles.

“Canelo wants the rematch on all the same terms as the fight he lost,” Bivol’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, told ESPN on Friday. “Usually when a fighter really wants a rematch to happen, he doesn’t ask for all the same terms. If Canelo really wanted to avenge his loss as desperately as he portrays to the press, he would have been fighting GGG and Ryder first.

“And they would not be talking to the reps of Charlo, [David] Benavidez, [Edgar] Berlanga, etc. He is obviously avoiding Bivol and they know it would be tough for them to beat him.”

Benavidez, ESPN’s No. 2 super middleweight after Alvarez, has been calling for his shot at Alvarez in September. His promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, said Benavidez is moving on after he never received a response to an offer he made to Reynoso.

“We had a friendly meeting [after] which I promised to send a proposal,” Lewkowicz told ESPN on Monday. “And then [Reynoso] insults me by claiming he never received a proposal. I sent it by email, by text message and by WhatsApp. There’s no way he didn’t receive it. … The only thing he’s looking for is the legacy of Canelo so that he can retire in two or three fights without losing. This is boxing, nothing is written in stone. He can lose to somebody less than Benavidez.”

The package Alvarez was offered could have exceeded $60 million, per sources, when accounting for his international TV rights and upside of the gate and pay-per-view for the Benavidez fight, the matchup most highly anticipated by fans.

Forbes last month ranked Alvarez at No. 5 on its highest-paid athletes list, with $110 million in estimated earnings in 2022.

Alejandro Zendejas Named to 23-Player U.S. Men’s National Team for 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup

Alejandro Zendejas is readying for the Gold-en hour… 

The 25-year-old Mexican professional soccer player, who plays as a winger for Liga MX‘s Club América, headlines the 23-player roster that will represent the United States at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, which starts Friday and runs through July 16.

Alejandro ZendejasThe team is made up primarily of MLS players, with 16 of the 23 players playing domestically. B.J. Callaghan‘s side also includes seven players who were part of the squad that played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

The group also includes Matt TurnerFC Dallas forward Jesús FerreiraToronto FC goalkeeper Sean JohnsonLAFC defender Aaron Long, the Seattle Sounders duo of forward Jordan Morris and midfielder Cristian Roldan, as well as Inter Miami defender DeAndre Yedlin. Yedlin is the most capped player on the roster with 78.

“This is a group that we have a lot of confidence in as we look to win another Gold Cup trophy. It’s a roster that has a good mix of veteran players that have World Cup experience and younger players that have earned an opportunity to come into camp and represent the United States in the Gold Cup,” Callaghan said.

“Many of these players have performed well at their clubs as well as the previous opportunities that they have had in the national team environment. We’re trying to expose as many players as possible to tournament competition. Some have a lot of experiences that we continue to build on, while others are just starting out. In all cases it will be valuable for the group moving forward.”

There is some overlap with the U.S. roster that will defend its title at the Concacaf Nations League this Thursday-Sunday, with Turner, Johnson, and Zendejas joined by Atlanta United defender Miles Robinson and FC Juarez midfielder Alan Soñora. The U.S. opens against Mexico in the Nations League semifinals on Thursday in Las Vegas and would play either Canada or Panama in the final should it advance past El Tri.

The roster also features two players from the team that represented the U.S. at the just-concluded FIFA Under-20 World Cup, those being San Jose Earthquakes forward Cade Cowell and Chelsea goalkeeper Gaga Slonina.

Also on the roster is Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris, who had been named to the preliminary rosters of both the U.S. and Canada. If Morris features in the Gold Cup, it will mean he is tied to the U.S. going forward.

The USMNT is part of Group A in the Gold Cup along with Jamaica, Nicaragua and a team that will be determined through the 2023 Gold Cup Prelims, and it will play all its group matches at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Based on the Gold Cup Prelims draw, the remaining team in Group A could be one of four possibilities: Curaçao, French Guiana, Sint Maarten, or St. Kitts and Nevis. The prelims round will run from Friday through June 20 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The U.S. will seek a record-tying eighth Gold Cup title. The USMNT won the inaugural tournament in 1991 before winning again in 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Should the U.S. win the July 16 final at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, it would tie Mexico’s record of eight titles. Tournament rules state that the final roster will be submitted no later than June 14.

A player may be replaced on the roster up to 24 hours before a team’s first match of the group phase, as well as 24 hours after the completion of its group stage competition, in the case of injury. The replacement player must come from the 60-man preliminary rosters.

USMNT GOLD CUP DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (club/country; caps/goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; 1/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 26/0)

DEFENDERS (8): DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 2/0), Aaron Long (LAFC; 32/3), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 23/1), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; 2/0), Bryan Reynolds (Roma/ITA; 3/0), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 78/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 9/0), Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar/NED; 6/1), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/3), James Sands (New York City FC; 8/0), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0)

FORWARDS (6): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 3/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 18/8), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 52/11), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 3/1), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 3/1)

Beatriz Haddad Maia Becomes First Brazilian Woman to Reach Top 10 of the WTA Rankings

Beatriz Haddad Maia’s French Open dream run may have fallen short of a title, but it still lead to a piece of history.

The 27-year-old Brazilian professional tennis player has become the first Brazilian woman to reach the top 10 of the WTA rankings after reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros.

Beatriz Haddad MaiaHaddad Maia beat Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinals in Paris to become the first Brazilian woman in 55 years to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.

She was beaten by eventual champion Iga Swiatek.

Brazilian women’s tennis has had precious little success since the days of Maria Bueno, who won seven Grand Slam titles between 1959 and 1966 — long before the WTA rankings were introduced in 1975.

Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten reached No. 1 in the men’s ATP rankings in 2000.

Haddad Maia will take a ranking of No. 10 into the grass-court season in which she impressed last year and will feature in this week’s Nottingham Open as buildup to Wimbledon begins.

Swiatek, who won her third career French Open title Saturday, and Aryna Sabalenka remained at Nos. 1-2 in the rankings, while Elena Rybakina and Caroline Garcia each moved up one spot to Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. American Jessica Pegula rounded out the top five.