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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 2 February 2019
High-profile moves _ and near moves _ mark a shift in MLS

By ANNE M. PETERSON season's MVP, Josef Marti-
AP Sports Writer nez.
Recent high-profile moves Commissioner Don Garber
— and near moves — for addressed the concerns
Major League Soccer play- in his annual state of the
ers are signaling a shift league address before the
in how the league is per- MLS Cup final between At-
ceived on the world stage. lanta and the Portland Tim-
The old stereotype that bers.
MLS is a final destination for "Our view on this whole
players on the downside area is very, very differ-
of their careers is fading as ent than it was two, three,
more of the league's stars four or five years ago. The
are getting attention from product that we're devel-
European clubs and be- oping has become some
yond — and moving on. of the more important as-
In the past few days, two sets, and we need to start
of the league's big names finding ways of protecting
have left for teams abroad: or finding some ways to get
Atlanta United midfielder compensated if we can't
Miguel Almiron and Toronto protect them or can't sign
forward Sebastian Giovin- them," Garber said.
co. In this file photo dated Sunday, June 24, 2018, Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almiron in action Of course, there are still
Those deals follow Bayern against the Portland Timbers during an MLS soccer match, in Atlanta, USA. some older players who
Munich's signing last year of have been stars in Europe
Vancouver winger Alphon- tract a player coming up Durbin, MLS executive vice "We continue to believe that come stateside, in-
so Davies for a then-record to the prime of his career, president for player rela- that players that come to cluding the Galaxy's Zlatan
transfer fee that could you're able to point to tions and competition. "Ev- Crew SC have an oppor- Ibrahimovic and D.C.
reach $22 million. Co- Miguel Almiron or Alphonso ery top league has clubs tunity to develop and be- United's Wayne Rooney.
lumbus goalkeeper Zack Davies, to be able to say, that sell talented players, come great players either That model of bringing in
Steffen will be headed to 'Look, you can come to this and MLS is no different. Im- here in MLS or abroad," he established talent from
Manchester City in July on league and actually now portantly, our clubs use the said. abroad still has value for
a deal that could net the get noticed and moved revenue to acquire new Giovinco, the league's Most some teams, but more and
Crew $10 million, and for- on to top clubs and top players like Pity Martinez, Valuable Player in 2015, more those new arrivals are
mer New York Red Bulls de- leagues in the world,'" Eales which improves the quality doesn't quite fit the mold trending younger.
fensive midfielder Tyler Ad- said. of our teams." of an emerging player like The average age of league
ams made his first start with Almiron, 24, played in 70 Davies, who is just 18, be- Almiron, but he was key to newcomers — which
German club RB Leipzig last matches across all com- came part of the White- Toronto's rise in recent years doesn't include draft picks
week after he was dealt in petitions for Atlanta over caps' residency program and one of the team's most or development academy
December. the past two seasons, scor- in 2015 and made his MLS popular players. After four players — is 25.24, just slight-
Atlanta United President ing 22 goals with 30 assists. debut the next year. He is seasons with the Reds, ly higher than the record
Darren Eales said the While he moved on, Atlan- the youngest player ever Giovinco moved to Saudi low set last year of 24.84
Almiron move to Newcas- ta recently signed another to play for the senior Cana- Arabian team Al-Hilal. years. Just five years ago,
tle United is emblematic of promising young player dian national team. There are some pitfalls to that average was 27.53
the team's philosophy of in 25-year-old midfielder Steffen, 23, was the 2018 being a so-called "seller's years.
bringing in promising young Pity Martinez, the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the league." MLS must navigate "The great thing is that
players and showcasing South American Player of Year and has been starting player development and we're in a period of growth
them. the Year. for the U.S. national team. movement while keeping and flux in the league. For
"I think we can say after this "The increase in transfer Crew technical director young players that are the some players, yes, there will
transfer window, if you're fees for MLS players is an Pat Onstad echoed Eales future of the league. At- be opportunities to go on
a young player, if you're indication of the quality when the deal for Steffen lanta seems to have struck to other top clubs," Eales
a club in MLS trying to at- of our players," said Todd was struck in December. a balance by re-signing last said. q

Connecticut Open tennis tournament to leave New Haven

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) Connecticut Open was no Worcester said. The tournament's finances people when there was
— The Connecticut Open longer viable, organizers The tournament tradition- have been tenuous for almost certainty five years
tennis tournament is leav- said. The Tennis Foundation ally has taken place in Au- several years and it nearly ago that it would leave
ing New Haven after a 21- of Connecticut said it is ex- gust, the final WTA tuneup moved out of state before for another state. Five ad-
year run in the city, orga- ploring whether another before the U.S. Open. Connecticut bought the ditional years of economic
nizers said Friday. professional tennis event New Haven Mayor Toni rights to the tournament in impact, marketing of the
The operators of the tour- can be drawn to the city. Harp said the tournament 2013 for $618,000. In 2017, state around the world,
nament have sold the "It has been an amazing has helped to boost the the state completed a $2.5 and year-round commu-
sanction for the WTA event 21-year run for women's city financially and bring million renovation of the nity outreach programs is
to APG, a sports and enter- professional tennis in New it global attention since it facility where the tourna- something to be celebrat-
tainment company that is Haven, and we are truly began in 1998. ment is held in hopes of ed," said Mark Ojakian,
planning to put on a tour- grateful to all the fans, "We remain hopeful that getting more out of the who helped to save the
nament in September in volunteers, players, media professional tennis will re- venue than just the tennis tournament when he was
Zhengzhou, China. and sponsors involved," turn to New Haven in the event. "It stayed in New Ha- former Gov. Dannel P. Mal-
The financial model of the tournament director Anne very near future," Harp said. ven due to efforts by many loy's chief of staff.q