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Wednesday 24 July 2024

49ers have no intention of dealing Brandon Aiyuk despite his trade request

By JOSH DUBOW both of those guys have their
AP Pro Football Writer individual experiences with
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) it. It never helps. But that's
— The San Francisco 49ers something that's not a new
have no intention of grant- thing, something you have
ing star receiver Brandon to deal with."
Aiyuk his trade request and "Contract (negotiations) are
remain committed to getting like braces," Kittle said. "They
a long-term extension done suck the entire time and then
with one of their most impor- once you get them off, you
tant offensive players. forget that you ever had
General manager John Lynch them. But this time, in the case
said there are no absolutes of the contract, you get a
but that the 49ers "expect big bag of money. ... I just
Brandon to be an integral try to tell him, it's a horrible
part of our team like he has process. I hated the entire
been and are excited about process when I was going
that," through it. Bosa's last year
The 49ers arrived at training was awful. He didn't get it
camp on Tuesday, a day done until the first week of
before their first practice of the season. It's not fun."
the summer and Lynch said Aiyuk is currently under the
he expected Aiyuk to report fifth-year option worth about
despite skipping the entire off- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, top, catches a pass against Detroit Lions $14.1 million this season. Eight
season program, including a cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game receivers before Aiyuk had
mandatory minicamp. in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Associated Press signed contracts worth at
Aiyuk would have been sub- least $70 million already this
ject to potential fines if he nication," Lynch said. "We homegrown stars, handing performance during those offseason with Justin Jeffer-
didn't show up but he still started this really early. We out megadeals the past four seasons. The Niners hope son's four-year, $140 million
could try to follow the path made it a priority to try to get offseasons to George Kittle, that isn't the case with Aiyuk. extension with Minnesota
of teammate Deebo Samu- it done. We've had excellent Fred Warner, Samuel and "NFL seasons are real hard. setting the top of the market.
el, who skipped the first four communication throughout. I Nick Bosa. So any time you don't really Aiyuk was a key part of San
training camp practices in really don't want to character- While Samuel missed only a get to prepare the right way Francisco's offense last season
2022 while negotiating for a ize it. We haven't been able handful of practices in 2022, in training camp, it's a chal- as he formed a great connec-
long-term extension. to and that's a shame. But Bosa held out until a few days lenge for all those players," tion with Purdy. Aiyuk had 75
Lynch said he expects every Brandon's a big part of our before the season opener last coach Kyle Shanahan said. catches and a career-high
player to practice but remains team, and we expect that season. "But tons of players have gone 1,375 yards last season with
focused on reaching a long- he will be this year." Both players said the long through it. Some have big- seven touchdowns as he
term deal with Aiyuk. The Niners have done a contract disputes weighed ger challenges than others. earned second-team All-Pro
"We've had great commu- good job rewarding their on them and impacted their Each one's different. ... So honors.q

Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Luis

Suárez to miss MLS All-Star Game

MIAMI (AP) — Inter Miami Both were listed among the top players from league
star Lionel Messi won’t play unavailable players by the clubs against players from
in the MLS All-Star Game league on Monday. Mexico’s Liga MX.
while nursing an ankle in- Messi, an eight-time Ballon Miami teammates Sergio
jury. d’Or winner from Argentina, Busquets and Jordi Alba
The 37-year-old Messi left has missed Miami’s wins will play Wednesday night.
the July 14 Copa America over Toronto FC and the Real Salt Lake forward Cris-
final win over Colombia Chicago Fire. The team said tian Arango will also miss the
with a right ankle injury. both players’ status for Sat- All-Star Game while serving
His teammate, Luis Suárez, urday’s Leagues Cup open- a four-game suspension
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waves as he walks off the also won’t play in the game ing match at home against from Major League Soccer
field after being honored for his 45 career trophies before an Wednesday in Columbus, Mexican club Puebla “will for violating the league’s
MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July Ohio, with what the team be assessed based on their anti-harassment policy.
20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. described as “knee discom- daily recovery process.” Arango leads MLS with 17
Associated Press fort.” The MLS All-Star Game pits goals and 11 assists.q