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The New York Red Bulls have signed Matt Nocita through the end of the 2022 Major League Soccer campaign, with club options from 2023 to 2025.

He joins after being picked as the Number 7 overall by RBNY in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. The defender previously played collegiate soccer at the United States Naval Academy, earning the title of Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year three times.

“We were really impressed with Matt in his time with the Navy,” sporting director Denis Hamlet said in a release. “We are looking forward to having Matt with us and having him help us accomplish our goals on the field.”

Nocita gives Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber another option at the back, alongside USMNT’s Aaron Long, Andres Reyes and Sean Nealis. 

“We have been really happy with what Matt has shown over the last month,” head coach Gerhard Struber said in a release. “We are really excited to add him to our roster.”

The team currently sit in fourth on the Eastern Conference table, pursuing their 13th consecutive MLS Cup Playoffs appearance.

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Andres Guardado revealed his intent to retire from the Mexican national team after his participation in Qatar 2022, stating “it’s my last dream, my last goal.”

The midfielder has long been a staple of El Tri, serving as a veteran and captain. He’s currently on the verge of making his World Cup appearance for Mexico, after first featuring in the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions of the international tournament.

When he and Guillermo Ochoa make Gerardo Martinez’s final roster, the two will be the third and fourth Mexican players to reach five World Cups, alongside legends Antonio Carbajal and Rafael Marquez.

“For me, I play the World Cup and my participation in the National Team ends. It’s my last dream, my last goal, and I also don’t see it as saying, I want to go because I want to play five World Cups. No. For me it is my last chance to get something for my national team,” he said to Rondo Magazine. 

He first debuted with El Tri in 2005, working rapidly to make a name for himself while with Liga MX side Atlas to propel a national team career. Guardado began to feature regularly in 2007, securing Concacaf and friendly appearances, but it wasn’t until 2014 that he became a prominent figure on the international stage. 

That year, Guardado started all of Mexico’s World Cup matches, earned the captain’s armband and marked 100 appearances for the team. He continues to serve as one of the most experienced in the squad, guiding the younger generation as they plan for Qatar 2022. 

“I give you the example of the Olympics at Wembley, they said they would make a fool of themselves and they brought gold. I don’t know if it will last us that long, but I trust that we will be reinforced with everything that moves around, we will convince ourselves that we are capable and we are going to show that when we least trust is when things are achieved”, he concluded.

Mexico drew in Group C, against Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia in Qatar 2022 seeing a difficult, but not impossible, road to the Round of 16.

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For the first time since *checks notes* two weeks ago, the Premier League weekend begins with a team other than Manchester United at the foot of the table.

Nature is healing.

With a midweek round of fixtures and the transfer deadline on the horizon, how will the 20 top-flight sides fare heading into gameweek four?

Here are 90min’s predictions…

Southampton vs Manchester United

Erik ten Hag’s quest to secure back-to-back wins for first time as Man Utd boss continues at Southampton in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

The Red Devils have understandably been buoyed by Monday night’s win against rivals Liverpool, lifting them out of the relegation zone.

The Saints, meanwhile, have come up with two masterful escape acts in the last two weeks, taking four points from a possible six against Leeds and Leicester – but that run should end here.

Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Manchester United

Brentford vs Everton

Everton travel to Brentford still looking for their first league win of the new season.

Frank Lampard’s side ended their miserable start to the campaign with a narrow win at Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but face an altogether different task at the Gtech Community Stadium against a side who did the double over them last year.

The Bees fell to a late Aleksandar Mitrovic goal against Fulham last week, but have looked strong and brave in the post-Christian Eriksen era nonetheless.

Prediction: Brentford 1-0 Everton

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United

Brighton and Leeds’ fast starts to the new season will make their meeting at the Amex Stadium all the more intriguing.

Graham Potter has long been regarded as one of the Premier League’s brightest managers, but Jesse Marsch has shaken off his ‘Ted Lasso’ tag in recent weeks, particularly after the Whites’ impressive dismantling of Chelsea.

There won’t be too much to separate these sides, but the Seagulls should just about edge it.

Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Leeds United

Chelsea vs Leicester City

Chelsea welcome Leicester to Stamford Bridge in a custody battle for Wesley Fofana. Oh, and for a football match.

Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the French defender will not take part on Saturday, while his opposite number Thomas Tuchel has been banned from the touchline.

Both sides have started the season in disappointing fashion, and it should be the Blues who are the happier come teatime.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City

Liverpool vs Bournemouth

90min’s Crisis Club of the Week Liverpool will look to ditch that moniker with a convincing display against Bournemouth.

All of the Reds’ deficiencies came racing to the surface on Monday at Old Trafford and Jurgen Klopp will be keen to silence their doubters.

Bournemouth face the unenviable task of facing their third ‘big six’ team in a row on their return to the top flight. When it rains it really pours, huh.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth

Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

Manchester City return to the Etihad Stadium looking to put to bed their Crystal Palace hoodoo.

The Eagles took four points off of last season’s eventual champions and have gained a reputation as City’s bogey team.

Unfortunately for Patrick Vieira, Pep Guardiola’s men are at their most ruthless just after dropping points and will have a fire inside them after drawing at Newcastle.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Crystal Palace

Arsenal vs Fulham

Arsenal have a great chance to take 12 points from the opening 12 available to them this year when they welcome Fulham to the Emirates Stadium.

Marco Silva’s Cottagers have looked resilient on their return to the Premier League and notched up their first win late on against rivals Brentford last week.

But Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are in the form of their life and are showing little sign of slowing down soon.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Fulham

Aston Villa vs West Ham United

Basement club West Ham head to Aston Villa looking for their first goals and points of the Premier League season.

David Moyes’ men have navigated the play-off round of the Europa Conference League with ease but are still yet to get going domestically.

Villa haven’t started too brightly either and the pressure is already on Steven Gerrard to turn their fortunes around.

Prediction: Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Newcastle United

Newcastle can keep their positive momentum rolling when they make the journey to Wolves on Sunday.

Eddie Howe’s charges fought tooth and nail to take a point off of Manchester City last week and will feel aggrieved that they didn’t end the match as the victors. The club-record signing of Alexander Isak will surely have helped lift the mood too.

Wolves are still struggling for goals, but they still have plenty of technical players to give the Magpies some headaches.

Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Newcastle United

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur

The final match of gameweek four comes from the City Ground as Nottingham Forest take on Tottenham in the Michael Dawson derby.

Steve Cooper’s hosts beat West Ham in their last home outing and it’s becoming apparent that most of their points will come Trentside this season.

Antonio Conte was defiant that Spurs have deserved the seven points they’ve chalked up already this term – that figure should be 10 by the end of the weekend.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

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Ajax have knocked back a €90m bid from Manchester United for Antony, 90min understands.

The Red Devils have long since made the Brazil winger their number one attacking target this window and the player is keen on making the move to Old Trafford, missing several training sessions to try and force a transfer.

However, Ajax are standing firm in their valuation and will not sell Antony for less than a record sale, and 90min understands that United’s most recent bid of €90m is around €2m under that threshold.

Antony is unhappy with the Ajax hierarchy as he believes this latest offer was certainly an acceptable one.

Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth bring you Talking Transfers, discussing Lucas Paqueta’s potential move to West Ham, Chelsea’s plans to sign Anthony Gordon, Wesley Fofana and Arsen Zakharyan and the latest from Old Trafford. Available on all audio platforms and the 90min YouTube channel.

If you can’t see the podcast embed, click here to download the episode in full!

United are looking to bring in two forwards – one of which they hope will be Antony – before the transfer deadline, not least because of the uncertainty surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s future. Anthony Martial recently picked up an Achilles injury to add to Erik ten Hag’s attacking woes.

PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo remains an option for United, while former number seven Memphis Depay is also being considered by Old Trafford chiefs after a move to Juventus fell through.

On Ajax’s end, they’ve been in talks with Chelsea over re-signing Hakim Ziyech, though they only want to take him on loan while the Blues prefer a sale. Justin Kluivert, who’s been in discussions with Fulham, has emerged as an alternative.

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Manchester United remain in talks with Ajax over the transfer of Antony and are prepared to lodge what they hope will be a final offer to sign the Brazilian, 90min understands.

The 22-year-old has long been established as United’s number one attacking target for the summer transfer window, and the player himself is pressing hard to make his move to Old Trafford happen.

The Brazilian has even been absent from recent Ajax training sessions in his attempts to force the move, though he is now back with the club after the Dutch champions decided to impose daily fines worth in excess of £25,000 as a punishment for his decisions.

Sources have indicated to 90min that they are expecting United’s offer to come in at around £80m, which will break Ajax’s record sale figure if the move comes off. Ajax previously sold another Manchester United transfer target, Frenkie de Jong, to Barcelona for £78m in 2019.

United hope that Antony will be one of two forward arrivals before the window closes, in the best case scenario, as uncertainty still hangs over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth bring you Talking Transfers, discussing Lucas Paqueta’s potential move to West Ham, Chelsea’s plans to sign Anthony Gordon, Wesley Fofana and Arsen Zakharyan and the latest from Old Trafford. Available on all audio platforms and the 90min YouTube channel.

If you can’t see the podcast embed, click here to download the episode in full!

United have held interest in PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo, and a negotiation may be easier after their elimination from the Champions League by Rangers earlier this week – though he is still expected to cost a significant sum. They are also monitoring the situation around Memphis Depay, who saw a move from Barcelona to Juventus break down earlier this week.

The club have not ruled out a potential move for the former United player, though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s impending sale to Chelsea could clear the pathway for more regular first team football for the 28-year-old at Camp Nou.

New signing Casemiro could make his debut for the club at Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

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