With Lionel Messi coming to MLS this past summer, soccer in the U.S. was forever changed. It led to an immediate impact in the popularity of the sport. Miami FC prices rose to an all time high and the number of MLS Apple subscribers have more than doubled. Moreover, the top US soccer betting sites recognizing that soccer remains the world’s most popular sport, have been promoting Miami FC’s matched on their platform to th point where Miami FC became the second most bet soccer team in the league. 

At the same time, with Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, a debate has stirred about which superstar is playing in the better league right now. Ronaldo himself has stated that the Saudi League is better than MLS despite never playing in MLS. Let’s explore this topic a little to see if we can determine whether the Saudi Pro League is better than MLS.

Star Power

The biggest reason why there is a debate between the Saudi Pro League and MLS is the fact that Ronaldo and several other stars made the leap from top European clubs to clubs in Saudi Arabia. Bonafide superstars like Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, N'Golo Kanté, Jordan Henderson, Riyad Mahrez, Ruben Neves, Roberto Firmino, and several others have all taken big paydays and joined teams in the Saudi Pro League. Needless to say, that has filled the Saudi Pro League with an abundance of star power.

On the other hand, Messi is only the biggest and latest superstar to move from Europe to MLS. The top-flight league in the U.S. has long attracted top European stars in the twilight of their career. Long before Messi, the likes of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Frank Lampard all joined MLS teams. In other words, MLS was bringing in star players long before the Saudi Pro League was. Among current players, Messi is joined by the likes of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Xherdan Shaqiri, Lorenzo Insigne, and others among former European stars finding a home in MLS.

Overall Quality

The obvious caveat for both the Saudi Pro League and MLS is that their transplants from top European clubs are all past their primes. Even superstars like Messi and Ronaldo aren’t the elite players they once were, even if they still attract fans. To create a strong and competitive league, it takes a deep player pool, not just a dozen superstars.

This is where MLS has a clear advantage over the Saudi Pro League. Outside of stars like Messi, MLS has quality players from all over the world. MLS has a long history of having players called up to national teams despite not always recognizing international breaks. In November 2023, 45 players from the Saudi Pro League left to play for their national teams while MLS had more than twice as many leave their clubs for national team duty. 

Outside of the recent collection of European stars, not all of whom still play internationally, the Saudi Pro League doesn’t send a large collection of players to national teams with some Saudi clubs only having one or two international players on their squad. Only one Saudi club had more than four players on international duty in November whereas nine MLS teams sent five or more players to their national team.

The Verdict

Despite Messi’s presence in MLS, the Saudi Pro League surely has a bigger collection of stars than MLS. However, the overall depth of MLS makes it a better, more competitive league. MLS has more teams, more international players, and also sends its best young players to top European clubs whereas the Saudi Pro League doesn’t. While the Saudi Pro League has done well to acquire big names and excellent talent, from top to bottom, MLS has more quality and should be considered a superior league.

Photo credit: Alamy

Manchester United are on the verge of acquiring their first player in the ongoing transfer market, with Ajax’s Donny van de Beek days away from the sealing the move. Elsewhere, the fight between the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi and Barcelona continues, while there are other developments in the market as well.

That said, here is what’s happening in Europe:

Conte wants Kante

Antonio Conte wants Inter Milan to go for Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante as the Italian looks keen on reuniting with the Frenchman, who worked together at Chelsea. As per Tuttomercatoweb, Inter wants the former Leicester midfielder on loan, and want to add an option to buy for �?0million (£44.5m). This represents a significant coup as Chelsea signed the midfielder for just £32 million back in 2016.

The Blues have splashed cash on the likes of Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva, while Kai Havertz is reportedly on his way as well. That said, the club is now seeking a way to recoup the funds, which could act as a potential boost for Inter in their pursuit. 

Antonio Conte has recruited several players from the Premier League, with the list including Romelu Lukaku, Christian Eriksen, Ashley Young, Victor Moses and Alexis Sanchez, and now wants Kante to join the fray after missing dropping his interest in Sandro Tonali, who is on his way to AC Milan.

Liverpool in for Ismaila Sarr

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are considering making a move for Watford winger Ismaila Sarr by matching Watford’s asking price of £40m. As per the reports. The Reds have made Sarr their priority above all given that he is also on the radar of Manchester United. 

As far as Watford are concerned, they are willing to let their winger leave with the only condition being the suitor pays more than £40m for the 22-year-old. Sarr was one of Watford’s top performers in a rather gloomy 2019/20 Premier League campaign, scoring five goals, two of which came in Watford’s stunning 3-0 win over the Reds in February.

Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace are also monitoring his situation, but the Londoners are unlikely to match the asking price. Sarr, who had six assists last season, joined Watford in 2019 from the Ligue 1 side Rennes in a £35m deal.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles going nowhere 

Days after Wolves began showing an interest in Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Arsenal are said to be reconsidering their plans of letting the youngster leave. The 23-year-old versatile midfielder, who still has three years left on his current deal, was exceptional against Liverpool in the Community Shield final on Saturday, but his future has been thrown in the air, with the likes of Wolves, Newcastle and Brighton looking to prey him away from London.

Wolves, in fact, saw their opening bid of £15m getting rejected from Arsenal. 

Speaking about his future after Sunday’s game, the 23-year-old assured his commitment to the club, saying, “I am an Arsenal player until I am told otherwise,�?he told BT Sport.

“My heart is in the club and whilst I am here I am going to give 100% all the time. So that is that.�?/span>

As thing stand, it looks like the midfielder has earned the trust and confidence of his manager, who is now reluctant on losing his young prodigy.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

N'Golo Kante has been allowed to stay away from Chelsea's return to training due to his pandemic fears.

The French World Cup winner joined up with Frank Lampard's squad on Tuesday as Chelsea resumed training following the Premier League's decision to allow socially distanced sessions.

But the 29-year-old missed Wednesday's small group practice with the blessing of Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, who is reported to have allowed him to train at home on compassionate leave.

Kante, who tested negative for the virus during this week's first batch of checks, is said to be unconvinced it is safe to train with his teammates while the pandemic is yet to be subdued in Britain.

Read | Premier League players are treated like 'lab rats', says Danny Rose

Black and ethnic minorities are at greater risk of serious illness if they contract the virus, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Midfielder Kante is understood to have mostly remained indoors with one of his brothers since the suspension of the Premier League season on March 13.

The former Leicester star experienced a health scare when he collapsed at Chelsea's training ground two years ago. Tests did not reveal any heart concerns but he missed Chelsea's next game as a precaution.

Kante's elder brother Niamh died of a heart attack shortly before the 2018 World Cup. Kante's decision to stay at home comes after Watford captain Troy Deeney opted not to join his team for the resumption of training.

Deeney's young child has breathing difficulties and he did not want to put his family at risk.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Justin Tallis

Chelsea did not make any major additions to their squad over the last two transfer windows. Frank Lampard, in his first season, has done well with a squad that seems to have a good balance of youth and experience.

However, there is a strong possibility that he will want to build a squad in his own image, meaning there could be some players from the current roster who could be shown the door come summer.

With that in mind, we take a look at the Chelsea squad and assess who might stay at the club beyond the summer and who might not.

Goalkeepers

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Spaniard Kevin Arrizabalaga’s future was up in the air after Lampard dropped him from the first-team in February. Ever since, Chelsea have been linked with a new goalkeeper.

However, upon returning, Arrizabalaga performed well. Moreover, given the current situation, the Blues might want to refrain from spending on a new goalkeeper and invest in other areas that need immediate reinforcements.

Verdict: Stays.

Willy Caballero

The Argentine got a handful of games when Kepa was benched but failed to make much of an impression. And with the 38-year-old's contract set to expire at the end of the season, his time at Stamford Bridge is drawing to a close.

Perhaps the Blues might push someone like Jamal Blackman or Nathan Baxter into the second-choice goalkeeping role next season.

Verdict: Leaves. 

Defence

Antonio Rudiger

German international Antonio Rudiger has endured an injury-riddled campaign, which hasn’t quite allowed him to play at his best. However, with his experience and leadership, Rudiger is an important member and is expected to stay at Chelsea.

Verdict: Stays.

Kurt Zouma

Kurt Zouma (R) is a valuable squad player who could be retained. Photo courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis

There is no doubting his commitment to the cause but Kurt Zouma doesn’t quite fit the mould of the ball-playing defenders Lampard wants in his team. However, the Frenchman is valuable as a squad player and could only be pushed out if Chelsea bring in a new centre-back.

Verdict: Stays.

Andreas Christensen

Used sparingly early on in the campaign, Danish centre-half Andreas Christensen had become a regular in the latter half of the season with some impressive performances. Young, reliable and an academy product, Christensen isn’t going anywhere.

Verdict: Stays.

Fikayo Tomori

One of Chelsea’s breakout stars of the season, Fikayo Tomori has impressed in his first full season with the first-team and signed a long-term contract only in December last year.

Verdict: Stays.

Emerson Palmieri

Despite having had a number of opportunities, Italian full-back Emerson Palmieri has never been able to establish himself at Chelsea. Lampard is on the lookout for a new left-back in the summer, meaning Palmieri’s time at the Bridge is up and a return to Italy is on the cards.

Verdict: Leaves.

Read | Who could stay or leave next summer? Manchester City’s squad assessed

Marcos Alonso

Spaniard Marcos Alonso hasn’t done enough to justify being the first-choice left-back at Chelsea. However, his performances just before the season was suspended showed he can be counted upon when needed and should buy him some time at the club.

Verdict: Stays.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Captain Cesar Azpilicueta continues to perform week in week out, even though there has been a dip in form. With still two years on his current contract, Azpilicueta is going nowhere, although we might see him being slowly phased out of first-team with Reece James taking over as the first-choice right-back.

Verdict: Stays.

Reece James

The future of the club, academy graduate Reece James has shone bright in his debut season with Chelsea, and he has signed an extension till 2025 in January earlier this year.

Verdict: Stays.

Midfielders

Jorginho

28-year-old Maurizio Sarri favourite Jorginho has been a key player for Chelsea under Lampard. The current vice-captain of Chelsea has plenty left to offer, given his experience and quality. 

Verdict: Stays.

N’Golo Kante

It has been a difficult campaign for diminutive Frenchman N’Golo Kante, with injuries hampering him throughout. Recent reports have claimed that he is seen as a surplus to requirements by Lampard.

However, given his quality, it is hard to see Chelsea offloading him this summer.

Verdict: Stays.

Mateo Kovacic

Croatian international mateo Kovacic has had a solid season in the middle of the park and established himself as one of the first names on Lampard’s teamsheet.

Verdict: Stays.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a key component of Chelsea's future plans. Photo courtesy: AFP / Oliver Greenwood

Another midfielder who has been on the treatment tables for much of the season, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is seen as the present and the future of the club. Extremely talented, the midfielder will have a key role to play when football resumes.

Verdict: Stays.

Ross Barkley

Englishman Ross Barkley has had a stop-start campaign, but was growing in stature prior to Premier League being suspended. Given his obvious talent, it is frustrating to not see him perform at his best week in week out, but Chelsea are likely to give him another season to come good.

Verdict: Stays.

Billy Gilmour

18-year-old Billy Gilmour has made a huge impression in his last couple of first-team appearances and Lampard has been singing praises of the midfielder. Expect him to become a more regular feature next season.

Verdict: Stays.

Marco van Ginkel

Dutchman Marco van Ginkel hasn’t played for Chelsea for so long, that people might have already forgotten that he is still on the club’s books. The 27-year-old has been on the sidelines, recovering from a chronic knee problem all throughout the season.

With his contract up at the end of the season, it seems unlikely that Chelsea will be offering an extension, given the plethora of options at Lampard’s disposal.

Verdict: Leaves.

Mason Mount

Another beneficiary of Lampard’s trust in youth, Mason Mount has become a regular for Chelsea and has broken into the England national team. Mount signed a contract till 2024 not very long ago.

Verdict: Stays.

Attackers

Willian

Chelsea No. 10 Willian is in the final few months of his contract. Negotiations over a new deal have hit a roadblock, casting serious doubts over his future.

With plenty of suitors out there, we might see the Brazilian opt to move on at the end of the season.

Verdict: Leaves.

Read | Who could stay or leave this summer? Liverpool’s squad assessed

Christian Pulisic

USMNT international Christian Pulisic had shown brief glimpses of his abilities before picking up an injury. An exciting talent, Pulisic has a bright future at Chelsea.

Verdict: Stays.

Pedro

Another experienced pro whose contract is on the verge of expiry, Pedro has stated that he is keen on leaving and should get his wish when the season comes to a closure.

Verdict: Leaves.

Callum Hudson-Odoi

England international Callum Hudson-Odoi hasn’t played as regularly as he would have liked this season, with intermittent injuries hampering his development.

Bayern Munich have made no secret of their interest in the winger, but having signed a new long-term contract last September, Hudson-Odoi is expected to be a prominent player under Lampard moving forward.

Verdict: Stays.

Olivier Giroud

World Cup-winning striker Olivier Giroud was largely frozen out of the first-team picture by Lampard in the first-half of the season but an injury to Abraham forced him to bring Giroud back into the fold and the veteran showed what he brings to the table with a couple of important goals.

However, his contract expires at the end of the season and former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is keen on a reunion at Inter Milan.

Verdict: Leaves.

Tammy Abraham

The biggest beneficiary of Chelsea’s transfer ban in the last summer is Tammy Abraham. Thrust into the role of the first-choice striker, Abraham has thrived, although he did suffer a dip in form since the turn of the year.

Verdict: Stays.

Michy Batshuayi

Belgian international Michy Batshuayi hasn’t been able to convince us of his abilities during his time at Chelsea, apart from that brilliant loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.

With just a year left on his contract and Lampard looking for reinforcements, his future hangs in the balance. However, with Giroud certain to leave, Chelsea might hold on to him in order to avoid being too thinly stretched in the attacking department.

Verdict: Stays.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

The last decade was another eventful one for Chelsea. Having started the period with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, the Blues changed managers eight times, entering the new decade with club legend Frank Lampard at the helm. 

During this period, the west London outfit tasted plenty of success �?three Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League trophy, two UEFA Europa League trophies, three FA Cups and a League Cup. 

In what was a hugely triumphant period for the club, many players came in and went out through the doors at Stamford Bridge. But who stood out to be their worthiest acquisition over the last decade? Lets�?take a look;

Juan Mata

Signed from La Liga outfit Valencia in 2011, Juan Mata may not have had the longest of stints at Chelsea, but the Spaniard’s time at the club will be long cherished by the fans.

Read | Manchester City’s top five signings from the last decade

Mata, during his time with Chelsea, lit up Stamford Bridge with his creativity and slick passing, playing an important role in the club’s first-ever Champions League triumph and was again key in their Europa League success the subsequent season. The midfielder was named Chelsea’s Player of the Year during both these seasons.

With Jose Mourinho returning to the club in 2013, Mata’s game time reduced drastically, due to which he made the switch to Manchester United in January 2014. At Chelsea, the Spanish international made 135 appearances, scoring 32 goals and setting up 58 more, winning a number of trophies and many hearts along the way.

Eden Hazard

Back in 2012, Eden Hazard was one of the most sought-after players, with every top club in England and Europe vying for his signature. So when Chelsea beat everyone else to the punch to land the Belgian from Lille, it was seen as a massive coup. And as the years rolled on, it proved to be a masterstroke for the Blues.

Hazard, during his time with the club, grew into one of the best players across Europe, helping Chelsea to massive success in the process. The Belgian international won two Premier League titles, two Europa League trophies along with domestic cups as well, playing a crucial role in each of those triumphs. 

Read | Real Madrid’s top five signings from the last decade

Hazard ended up leaving the club for Real Madrid last summer. In all, the Belgian wing-wizard made 352 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 110 goals and setting up 92 more, claiming a number of individual honours in the process. His trademark runs cutting in from the left-side leaving defenders bamboozled will be long remembered by Chelsea fans as well as the Premier League fans.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Another import from the Ligue 1 in 2012, Cesar Azpilicueta joined Chelsea from Marseille for a fee just under �? million. And boy, what a bargain has he turned out to be for the Londoners! 

Azpilicueta may not be among the most naturally gifted players, but he more than makes it up for it with his dedication, commitment and versatility. During his time at Chelsea, the Spaniard has been asked to perform various duties �?right-back, left-back, centre-back, wing-back and every time he has stepped up to the challenge and performed admirably.

A leader on and off the field, Azpilicueta was named the captain at Chelsea following Gary Cahill’s departure. Till date, he has made 374 appearances for the club and at 30 years of age, he still has plenty left in the tank.

Read | Inter Milan’s top five signings from the last decade

Willian

The likes of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas were worthy contenders, but Willian’s longevity at the club and the fact that he has more or less been a regular member of the starting XI under every manager that has been at Chelsea since his arrival sees him make this list.

Signed in the summer of 2013 from under the nose of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Willian has had his fair share of critics during his time at Chelsea. But the Brazilian has fought through it and has added immense value to this side, helping the Blues achieve plenty of success along the way.

Till date, the 31-year-old has featured 329 times for Chelsea, scoring and assisting 59 goals apiece. The Brazilian has been a senior figurehead this season for a relatively young side under Frank Lampard, but with his contract running out at the end of the season, he could very well be on his way out.

N’Golo Kante

Signed from Leicester City following their surprise Premier League triumph in 2015-16, the diminutive midfielder from France made an immediate impact upon arriving at Chelsea. 

Read | Barcelona’s top five signings from the last decade

In his very first season, Kante played a crucial role as Chelsea lifted the Premier League title under Antonio Conte. The Frenchman was duly awarded the Chelsea Player of the Year award, along with the PFA Player of the Year and the FWA Player of the Year honours for that season. 

Kante was integral to the Blues�?FA Cup triumph the subsequent season and last year’s UEFA Europa League glory as well. The 29-year-old has racked up 164 appearances for the west London outfit till date and has only enhanced his status as one of the best defensive midfielders in the game currently during his time at Chelsea.