MLS news: Castellanos terrors Madrid, Bale to Wrexham, Brenner to Udinese

This week’s MLS news includes NYCFC loanee Taty Castellanos scoring a hat trick against Real Madrid, Rob McElhenney has tried to tempt former LAFC star Gareth Bale out of retirement and Brenner has completed his move from FC Cincinnati to Udinese. 

MLS news: Taty Castellanos scores four vs Real Madrid

Taty Castellanos has been on loan at Girona from New York City FC and the Argentine scored four goals against Real Madrid last night in a 4-2 win. He opened the scoring with a header in the 12th minute before doubling their lead just 12 minutes later after latching onto a long ball.

Los Blancos got one back through Vinicius Junior but Castellanos restored their two-goal advantage just after halftime which completed his hat trick. He then made it four with another header before Madrid got a late consolation from Lucas Vazquez.

Castellanos has now scored 11 goals in 29 La Liga appearances this season. His loan at Girona expires this summer and he will be in high demand. His MLS record with NYCFC is 50 goals in 106 matches. Castellanos also won MLS Cup with the side in 2021, a season where he also won the Golden Boot.

His form since departing NYCFC on loan has shown again how MLS is developing top talent. Particularly players from South America are showing that the league is a great stepping stone to Europe. Paraguayan Miguel Almiron is now starring for Newcastle in the Premier League having previously been at Atlanta United.

Atlanta also currently has Argentina World Cup winner Thiago Almada who has recently been linked with a move to Napoli.

MLS news: Gareth Bale to come out of retirement?

Former Los Angeles FC star Gareth Bale is being pressured into coming out of retirement by Wrexham co-owner McElhenney.

Bale replied to McElhenney “Depends what course … @RandA.” (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews). It would be amazing to see Bale playing in his native Wales for Wrexham in their first season back in the English Football League. However, it is very unlikely to happen for the man who last played club football for LAFC where three times 14 appearances.

Bale did not play much for LAFC but he did score a dramatic late equalizer for the club in the final of MLS Cup. LAFC went on to win that match against Philadelphia Union on penalties and the Welshman will always be a hero for the part he played in it.

MLS news: Brenner completes Udinese move

There has been a lot of speculation of this transfer but it now appears that Brenner is heading to Italy. The Brazilian has scored 27 goals in 69 MLS games for Cincinnati and this form has paid off as he has got his move to Europe.

The Athletic has reported that “Udinese have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Brenner from FC Cincinnati.

“Cincinnati will receive an initial fee of $10 million, as well as performance-based incentives, and will retain a future sell-on percentage. The deal is among the top 10 most expensive outbound transfers in MLS history.”