Swiderski acknowledges desire to return to Europe
Plus: Back-to-back Messi games?; Brandt Bronico bobbleheads; Previewing Saturday's game vs. LAFC
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Charlotte FC’s star tells reporter he’d like to play in ‘Top 5’ league; Transfer window open for 1 more week
Swiderski taking on Inter Miami defender Sergii Kryvtsov. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
If you were like me and new to the Major League Soccer soccer scene when Charlotte FC came into existence, it came as a surprise to find out that even the highest-paid, highest-profile players could up and walk in the middle of a contract to go play in Europe.
In fact, it seemed to be pretty conventional thinking when Charlotte signed Polish national Karol Swiderski as its first-ever designated player (star player signed without regard to the salary cap) that he would leave for Europe before his contract with Charlotte was up. The 26-year-old is signed through the 2025 season with an option for 2026.
The idea is that European leagues can use MLS as a proving ground for younger players, and when a player reaches a certain caliber, a team from Europe swoops in and waives top dollar at his MLS team, who would then “sell” or loan that player and take millions in return, knowing that the player would prefer playing for the higher caliber leagues in Europe anyway. Like it’s almost inevitable.
During Swiderski’s first season in Charlotte, he didn’t publicly express any interest in leaving for Europe just yet. But in a recent interview with Polish sports publication Sport.PL, his tune changed: “I must admit that I would like to return to Europe and play in a Top 5 league,” Swiderski told reporter Jakub Seweryn.
In the interview, he acknowledged the difficulty of being so far from his native Poland, especially when it came to traveling back and forth to play for the Polish national team.
Swiderski told Seweryn that his agent was entertaining proposals from “various clubs.” And in the days that followed, reports emerged that Swiderski was being courted by his former Polish national team coach, Paulo Sousa, who is now coaching for Salernitana with Serie A, the top division in Italy. So far, that interest has not translated into a deal — Charlotte FC reportedly rejected an initial offer and Salernitana has backed off. The European transfer window is open until Sept. 1.
Charlotte FC has 11 games remaining in the regular season and designs on making a push to qualify for the playoffs. The team is in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and six points out of 9th place — the top nine teams quality. Selling their best player now would be a tough case to make to fans, unless it’s pretty evident the playoff push is over and the offer from a European team brings significant cash. Swiderski is leading Charlotte FC with seven goals.
Charlotte FC hosts LAFC on Saturday and Orlando on Aug. 30, both before that Sept. 1 deadline.
While some Charlotte fans might now question Swiderski’s level of commitment to playing here, a teammate like Brandt Bronico said he doesn’t.
“He's still out there working hard, scoring goals,” Bronico said. “That’s all we’re concerned with. He’s motivated, he wants to win and wants Charlotte to do as best as we can.”
Charlotte to face Messi back-to-back weeks?
By virtue of having its first regular season matchup with Miami pushed back by the Leagues Cup, Charlotte FC might wind up facing Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in back-to-back weeks to finish out the season.
The game initially scheduled between Charlotte FC and Inter Miami on Aug. 20 in Fort Lauderdale was postponed after the teams met in the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup, and Miami ultimately advanced.
Both Charlotte and Miami have open dates on Saturday, Oct. 14, making that a logical date for the makeup game in Fort Lauderdale. Charlotte FC is already scheduled to host Miami on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Bank of America Stadium in the season finale. Major League Soccer has yet to make an official announcement.
Get ready for Brandt Bronico bobbleheads, with mullet
A big honor for midfielder Brandt Bronico: He’s becoming the first Charlotte FC player to get his own bobblehead.
The first 7,500 fans at Bank of America Stadium for Saturday night’s game against Los Angeles FC will receive a bobblehead. Bronico, who grew up in High Point and played college soccer at UNC Charlotte, is featured ripping his proverbial shirt apart in his “Superman” goal celebration he adopted from longtime Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton.
Brandt Bronico bobbleheads will be distributed to the first 7,500 fans at Saturday’s game. (Left photo by Carroll Walton; Bronico and bobblehead photo on right courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
The bobblehead actually looks like Bronico. Part of that is because of a recommendation Bronico made himself, when he saw a mock-up.
“It was their idea to do the Superman,” Bronico said. “I just asked them to add in the mullet.”
Bronico said he has something like 80 friends and family coming to the game Saturday night, including cousins flying in from Pennsylvania, teammates from his 49ers soccer teams, high school friends as well as friends and family in Charlotte.
BB13 Fundraiser: Bronico is hosting his second annual BB13 fundraiser at HopFly Brewing Company at 1327 S. Mint St. on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m.. Hopfly is releasing “The Mayor IPA” for the occasion. Bronico was dubbed “the mayor” by Charlotte FC radio play-by-play announcer Will Palaszczuk.
“It’s a hazy IPA with a citrus hop and a lemon drop hop,” said Bronico, who was planning to get his first taste Thursday, but not drink the full beer. He’s a disciplined guy.
The event will feature face-painting and 2 vs. 2 mini soccer cages. They are raffling off a game-worn Bronico jersey, game-worn Ben Bender signed cleats, Kristijan Kahlina goalie gloves, Ashley Westwood cleats and George Marks’ goalie gloves.
The event will benefit Beds for Kids, which supplies beds and essential furniture to children in need. Bronico said last year money raised from the event furnished eight homes. This year he is aiming for 20. For more information and for tickets, which are $10, click here.
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Coming tomorrow in The Charlotte Ledger:
Brandt Bronico keeps busy with a side hustle alongside his wife, Rebecca; ‘The grind never stops,’ she says
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Up Next: Charlotte FC vs. Los Angeles FC
When/Where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte.
How to watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. For information on how to sign up for a regular subscription with Apple TV, click here.
How to listen: WFNZ 92.7 FM in English and WOLS 106.1 FM in Spanish.
Charlotte FC returns to action after two weeks off since falling 4-0 to eventual Leagues Cup tournament champion Inter Miami and then postponing last weekend’s MLS regular season matchup in Miami as a result.
After hosting just one home game in seven weeks — beating Necaxa of the Mexican League 4-1 on July 29 — Charlotte FC will play twice in five days at Bank of America Stadium.
Charlotte lost 5-0 the last time it faced LAFC, in Los Angeles last Aug. 13. LAFC went on to win the MLS championship in a shootout over Philadelphia.
Newly acquired Finnish left back Jere Uronen has received his visa and is available to play this weekend. He has been practicing with the team while waiting for his visa to come through.
The upper bowl is open for Saturday’s game for just the third time this season, including Charlotte FC’s season-opener and July 8 vs. FC Cincinnati. (It was also open for the Gold Cup quarterfinal matches, which included the U.S. Men’s national team.)
Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich will be honored during the coronation ceremony at Saturday’s game. The Panthers play their final preseason game tonight and open the regular season Sept. 10 at the Atlanta Falcons.
Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now cutting her teeth on soccer and the Charlotte FC just as fans in Charlotte do. She would love to hear from you. E-mail her with questions, suggestions, story ideas and comments!
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