Lion Links: 1/15/23

Merry Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Mane Landers. Some of you might be lucky enough to not have to work on this federal holiday. If so, please enjoy and be kind to those of us who still have to report to work. We keep edging closer to to Orlando City taking the pitch again, with the players reporting for medicals over the weekend and training starting today. I’m very ready for the Lions to start playing matches. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Players Abroad

Orlando City has loaned Luca Petrasso to Triestina in Serie C. The young fullback will be able to get more playing time in Italy than in Orlando given Rafael Santos has secured the starting spot. The loan is for six months, allowing him to return over the summer for Orlando City, unless Triestina wants to buy Petrasso.

Cesar Araujo is not on loan, but he was nameed to Uruguay’s U-23 squad. Additionally, he was named as a captain for the match against Paraguay. Congrats to the young midfielder.

Pride Draft Picks

If you didn’t stay up way too late on Friday, you might have missed the players drafted by the Orlando Pride in the 2024 NWSL Draft. The Pride selected Ally Lemos from UCLA with the ninth overall pick. Lemos is a 19-year-old central midfielder that entered the draft after her sophomore year. With the 22nd overall pick, the Pride drafted Penn State midfielder/defender Cori Dyke. You might see a draft strategy developing after those two picks. Kerry Abello was excited to welcome Dyke.

The trend continued with the Pride’s two fourth-rounds picks. Orlando selected Texas Tech forward/midfielder Alex Kerr with the 50th overall pick. Kerr has the potential to add a new wrinkle to the Pride attack. With their final and 56th overall pick, the Pride selected UCF midfielder Talia Gabarra. Haley Carter and Seb Hines had a plan to address the midfield and did so in this draft and through new signings.

MLS Transfer News

Things are getting a bit crazy in LA as Carlos Vela may leave LAFC for the LA Galaxy because the Galaxy can offer a bigger salary. I hope I never need to type LA that many times in a sentence again.

Jefferson Savarino is transferring from Real Salt Lake to Brazilian top-flight side Botafogo. This was Savarino’s second stint with RSL. Savarino’s departure opens a Designated Player spot for RSL.

USMNT News

Christian Pulisic was named Serie A player of the month for December. Pulisic has thrived since joining AC Milan, and in December he contributed two goals with two assists. He also added a goal in a UEFA Champions League match against Newcastle United.

Seattle Sounders defender Jackson Ragen left the USMNT camp in Orlando after aggravating a knee injury. The roster for the friendly against Slovenia on Jan. 20 is down to 23 players. Former Lion Nico Gioacchini might be transferred from St. Louis City SC to Como FC of Italy’s Serie B. Gioacchini made a bigger impact with St. Louis than he did with Orlando City, scoring 10 goals for the expansion side.

Free Kicks

• Real Madrid trounced Barcelona 4-1 to win the Spanish Super Cup. Vinicius scored a hat trick for Real Madrid. It was utter domination and Barcelona ended the match with 10 players.
• Sir Jim Ratcliffe will likely take over football operations at Manchester United by mid-February. The billionaire is buying 25% share from the Glazer family.
• Elisabet Gunnarsdottir is on the list of candidates to replace Emma Hayes as Head Coach at Chelsea once Hayes joins the USWNT. Laura Harvey and Casey Stoney are two other possibilities.
• The Houston Dash signed 36-year-old veteran Yuki Nagasato to a two-year contract.
• FIFA’s The Best awards are tonight at the Hammersmith Apollo in West London. Hopefully, Lionel Messi won’t win the best player award again.

That will do it for today. Have a great week, everyone.