Lion Links: 2/25/25

Happy Tuesday, everyone. It was a rough start to the season for Orlando City, but that (hopefully) means that there’s nowhere to go but up. Regardless of if that proves to be true or not, the only way out is through, which means we need to start getting ready for Toronto FC on Saturday. We have lots to talk about today though, so let’s get into the links.

Marco Pasalic Recognized on TotM Bench

Marco Pasalic made his competitive debut for Orlando City in the team’s 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Union on Saturday and was one of the bright spots in a rough performance as he scored both of the team’s goals. He was justifiably rewarded with a place on the bench in the first MLS Team of the Matchday of the 2025 season. In addition to the goals, the Croatian was a threat all evening, as he put four of his seven shots on target and also provided two key passes. Sean Rollins named him Man of the Match for his performance, and it’s nice to see him getting some love on the larger stage as well. Hopefully this is just the first of many times he earns weekly recognition like this.

Americans in Midweek Action

We’ve got a lot of Americans who will be taking part in games during the working week, so make sure you get everything you want to see marked down on your calendar. Things start Wednesday with Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace hosting Aston Villa in the Premier League, while Antonee Robinson and Fulham travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wednesday sees Richy Ledezma and PSV Eindhoven host Go Ahead Eagles in the KNVB Cup semifinals, while PSV’s other three Americans remain out injured. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus will also host Empoli in a Coppa Italia quarterfinal. The other big match of the week is on Thursday, as Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan try to bounce back from a wobbly run of form as they visit Bologna in Serie A play.

U.S. Announces Preliminary Nations League Roster

Along with the other three semifinalists in the competition, the United States Men’s National Team has released its preliminary roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League semifinals. Currently standing at 60, the roster will be cut down to 23 by March 10, with the USMNT taking on Panama on March 20. The usual suspects are all present, like Pulisic, McKennie, Robinson, Tyler Adams, and Matt Turner, with plenty of young names like Aidan Morris, Diego Kochen, Jackson Ragen, and Jack McGlynn. The most intrigue will take part at striker. While Josh Sargent is almost surely a lock to make the team, any one of Patrick Agyemang, Brandon Vazquez, and Jordan Morris could easily find themselves included or missing out.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Despite most winter transfer windows being closed, there are still plenty of rumors we need to keep tabs on. First up, AC Milan is said to be monitoring the contract situations of stars Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, and Rafael Leao, and could be open to selling all three of them if the club does not qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season. Elsewhere, Vitor Roque’s proposed transfer from Barcelona to Palmeiras is reportedly off, as La Liga rules prevent Roque’s loan at Real Betis being cut short since the league is currently not in a registration period. Meanwhile, Manchester City has reportedly identified FC Porto netminder Diogo Costa as the man to replace current goalkeeper Ederson. Finally, Real Madrid is allegedly one of the teams in regular contact with Yamine Lamal’s agent, although Los Blancos have reportedly been told that Barcelona (unsurprisingly) refuses to sell him to its Spanish rivals.

Free Kicks

• Former Orlando City manager Adrian Heath took a trip down memory lane during his time at the season opener on Saturday.

• Inter&Co Stadium opened its doors just over eight years ago.

• The Seattle Sounders have announced an initiative to try to get more new fans to attend games.

• This is a very worthwhile read about Black Players for Change, the organization that fights for equality both inside and outside of Major League Soccer.
• Manchester United will make another 200 positions at the club redundant in the latest round of cost-cutting measures.

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!