Right back Alex Freeman, a hopeful for this year's United States World Cup roster, transferred Thursday to LaLiga club Villarreal from MLS side Orlando City. A 21-year-old son of former All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Freeman, Alex made his U.S. national team debut in May against Turkey. Getting playing time while Sergiño Dest regained fitness after a torn ACL, Freeman made 13 international appearances and scored twice in a November friendly against Uruguay.
Freeman, 21, has seen his value skyrocket over the last year, not only making 30 league and playoff appearances for the Lions -- in which he scored six goals and added three assists -- but making 13 appearances for the United States and scoring two goals. It was during last summer's Gold Cup that Freeman made a considerable impression on U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino.
More than anticipated, it is special. I spent almost 15 years at Barça, it is the club where I was practically my entire life. I have many friends there and countless memories,
Copenhagen continued their unlikely tilt for the knockout stages of the Champions League by beating Villarreal 3-2 at El Madrigal on Wednesday. Villarreal are still winless, just as Copenhagen had been through their first four matches of the league phase before following up a win against Kairat Almaty last time out with this victory. Copenhagen led after just 71 seconds as Mohamed Elyounoussi volleyed in a left-wing cross, and they protected that advantage until half-time.
Matias Almeyda's tenure in Seville began with consecutive defeats to Athletic Club and Getafe, results that raised doubts about the Argentine's first steps as a La Liga manager. Yet his side have found a measure of stability since, stringing together a sequence of positive results that has lifted them into mid-table and closer to the European places. After a lively 2-2 home draw with Elche, Sevilla went on to record back-to-back away wins, defeating Girona and most recently Alaves.