It’s a race that grips the world of cycling each year, but the prelude to the 2023 Tour de France, which starts on Saturday, has been overshadowed by concerns over safety that have raised existential questions for the sport.

In June, Swiss rider Gino Mäder died aged 26 following a crash on the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse.

Almost 200 kilometers into the race, Mäder crashed at high speed with American rider Magnus Sheffield, race organizers said after the incident. They were descending the Albula Pass towards La Punt, where the stage ended.

Mäder fell into a ravine and was found motionless in the water before being resuscitated and transported to hospital in the city of Chur by air ambulance.

His death sparked emotional tributes but also raised concerns about the safety measures around elite cycling.

From improving technology and a changing dynamic in the peloton, cycling is evolving and some are calling for it to change – and fast to ensure greater safety for the riders.

Adam Hansen, a former rider who competed in the Tour de France eight times, is the newly-elected president of the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) – the organization tasked with looking after the interests of professional cyclists.

But it’s not just speed that’s the issue. In any bike race, much of the racing focuses on what’s happening in the peloton – the main body of cyclists – and how riders and teams jockey for position.

“You have probably heard this term in cycling, ‘there’s no more respect in the peloton.’ And what I believe this actually means is riders are being more dangerous in the peloton,” Hansen explained.

“In the first 150 kilometers of a 200-kilometer race, riders would respect each other, they won’t cut each other off, they won’t fight for a position when there’s more than 100 kilometers to go before the finish, they’re more relaxed. And now people are just fighting for every single spot and they’re sort of touching elbows and shoulders with other riders and just becoming more dangerous in that sense.”

Hansen says that riders won’t struggle for motivation in this year’s Tour, but Mäder’s death will likely be playing in their minds of some competitors at certain points.

“I know when there will be fast, high-speed descents, there’s definitely going to be some riders with let’s say that thought in the back of their head, and they’ll be a bit more nervous and a bit more cautious and maybe take less risk.”

Tom Pidcock, who rides for team Ineos, says Mäder’s death could result in some more cautious descending from riders.

“I think especially for everyone who was at the race [Tour de Suisse], that was pretty hard hitting,” the British rider told reporters on Wednesday. “I think I didn’t see a single rider take any risks on the last two stages after that incident.

“Personally, one of the things that hit me was it happened descending, which is something that I love. It showed me what the consequences can be when it goes wrong. I don’t take unnecessary risks but things can happen when we’re riding down a descent at 100kph in lycra.”

Hansen says that in his role as the president of the CPA, he has worked with riders to see how cycling could be made potentially safer.

From unified signage between races to help riders and safety nets on descents down to the minutia of how close a steward stands in front of a parked car, nothing is off the table for Hansen before he delivers his recommendations to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – cycling’s world governing body.

There is a growing swell of advocates for the addition of safety nets on high speed corners in an effort to catch cyclists falling over a precipice.

“In the rare situation in which somebody goes over the edge, having a small amount of netting there could save lives,” Jonathan Vaughters, manager of the EF Education Easy Post team, told The Guardian. “Safety is a very difficult topic in cycling. I saw a lot of suggestions from people about limiting speed on descents and that doing that would make it safer.”

Hansen adds that educating an increasingly youthful peloton is an important factor in making the sport safer.

“Riders have to be aware that cycling is a dangerous sport. And I think sometimes they forget this and they have to be educated well in this,” he explained. “And also there’s a lot of young good riders at the moment where in the past, if you look at the average age of the Tour de France … [it] was quite old, where today we’ve got 20-year-old’s doing it.

“So what I felt is you’re getting these super young guys doing big races like Dauphine in Switzerland and the Giro [‘d’Italia], the Tour [de France].

“Like this year in the Giro, I think a 19-year-old has done it two times before. And normally you’d be 24 years old and you’ve done five years of professional racing before doing a grand tour. So maybe it’s inexperience.

“These are things we need to look into more and definitely educate the riders the dangers of it and it’s not worth taking massive risks.”

Structure

The 2023 Tour de France will see the famous race celebrate its 120th anniversary.

The first stage – called the Grand Départ – is 182 kilometers long and starts from Bilbao, Spain – the host country of the first three stages before the Tour moves to France. Since the 1950s, the Tour has often started in a different country as a way of allowing fans from other nations to experience the race.

In total, there will be 21 stages including eight flat stages, eight mountain stages, four hilly stages, one individual time trial, and two rest days. The race will finish in Paris on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday, July 23.

The famous yellow jersey will be awarded to the winner of the individual general classification, with the green jersey given to the points classification winner.

The polka dot jersey is given to the best climber and the white jersey goes to the best young rider.

An epic duel

Jonas Vingegaard is the Tour’s defending champion. The Danish rider had come close in years prior to the 2022 race, but eventually claimed the yellow in dramatic fashion last year and has continued to look strong this season, winning the Critérium du Dauphiné in June.

Vingegaard, who rides for team Jumbo–Visma, will have to fend off the challenge of Tadej Pogačar, a two-time winner of the Tour de France, if he wants to win a second title.

Pogačar had enjoyed a brilliant start to the season but broke his wrist two months ago, only returning to competitive racing earlier this month.

If the Slovenian looks anything close to his best, it could prove to be a fascinating battle between Pogačar and Vingegaard. Last year, the two went head-to-head with Vingegaard eventually pipping the UAE Emirates star and the pair look likely to lock horns once again this year.

Elsewhere, 2019 Tour de France champion Egan Bernal is competing in his first Grand Tour event since suffering serious injuries in a crash last year.

The Colombian collided with the back of a bus, suffering back, leg, knee and chest injuries but is now part of an Ineos team hoping to climb back to the summit of men’s cycling.

How to watch

Viewers in the US can tune into USA Network and NBC to watch the action, while in the UK, the Tour de France is being shown on Eurosport and ITV.

With the Super Bowl heading to Las Vegas next year, could Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s unlikely golfing victory in Sin City be an auspicious sign for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Mahomes and Kelce pulled off an upset 3 and 2 win against NBA stars Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in the eighth edition of “The Match” charity golf event, this year staged at Wynn Golf Club in Vegas.

Quarterback Mahomes and tight end Kelce entered Thursday’s 12-hole game against their NBA counterparts as heavy underdogs, particularly given Curry’s prowess on the golf course.

After the first hole was tied, the Chiefs pair won the next three to go three-up and didn’t look back from there, cruising to victory against the Golden State Warriors’ ‘Splash Brothers.’

Curry and Thompson briefly made things interesting on the ninth when the NBA duo were finally able to win a hole, though the comeback was short-lived.

Mahomes and Kelce completed their victory on the next hole as the tight end – despite heckles from the side of the green – drained his close-range putt.

“I’m new with how Trav is playing,” said Mahomes. “We knew coming into this that if I just played decent, we were going to have a chance. Steph’s a great golfer, I thought Klay did a good job out there today. But they didn’t have that team aspect that we had.

“Literally, I would hit a terrible shot, Trav would hit a great one and vice versa. That’s what it takes in a team event like that and I think we went out there and showed what we can do.”

This year’s competition, during which the players wore mics and trash-talked their way around the course, was once again taking place in the name of charity.

Contributions this year raised money for the “No Kid Hungry” campaign to end childhood hunger in the United States.

Over the previous seven editions, “The Match” had raised more than $35 million for various organizations and has donated more than 27 million meals.

This was the second time that no professional golfer has participated in the event after Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers defeated Mahomes and Josh Allen in a battle of the quarterbacks last year.

The series started in 2018 when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson went head-to-head at Shadow Creek Golf Course in North Las Vegas.

Thursday’s matinee MLB game between the San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park was delayed for 45 minutes due to poor air conditions caused by the lingering smoke from the wildfires in Canada.

Originally scheduled to be played at 12:35 p.m. ET, the game was pushed back to a 1:20 p.m. ET start.

Following the announcement of the delay, the Pirates released a statement saying the team would move forward with the game after consulting with the league and expert medical providers, among others.

“After collaborative discussions between Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association, our team of expert medical providers at Allegheny Health Network, our players and staff, we have made the decision to move forward with our game today,” the Pirates said in a statement.

“We will continue to closely monitor the air quality index levels around the ballpark and respond accordingly.”

After the game started, Pirates star Andrew McCutchen was shown on the broadcast putting on a mask while on first base after hitting a single in the first inning.

Some fans at the stadium were also shown on the broadcast wearing face masks.

The Pirates were victorious in the series finale, defeating the Padres 5-4. Pittsburgh will next host the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game series beginning on Friday.

The NFL has announced more suspensions for players violating the league’s gambling policy.

On Thursday, the league said Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts and free agent Demetrius Taylor are suspended indefinitely through at least the end of the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season. They can request for reinstatement after the 2023 season is completed.

Shortly after Rodgers and Berry’s suspensions were announced, the Colts waived both players.

Additionally, the league announced Thursday Nicholas Petit-Frere of the Tennessee Titans is suspended for the team’s first six regular season games of the 2023 season for betting on non-NFL sports at the club facility. He is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason activities, including preseason games.

The NFL’s gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all league personnel, including players, prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any form of gambling in any team or league facility or venue, including the practice facility. Any betting on the NFL is prohibited.

Earlier this month, Rodgers said he takes “full responsibility” while adding that he made an “error in judgment” after reports came out that he was being investigated by the NFL for possibly breaching the league’s gambling policy.

This came after ESPN and SportsHandle.com, citing unnamed sources, had reported that a sportsbook account was opened under the name of one of Rodgers’ associates, where approximately 100 bets were placed over an undisclosed amount of times.

“Addressing the current reports, I want to take full responsibility for my actions,” Rodgers said at the time in a statement on Twitter. “I know I have made mistakes and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repair the situation.

“The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organization, my coaches and my teammates. I’ve let people down that I care about. I made an error in judgment and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process. It’s an honor to play in the NFL and I have never taken that lightly. I am very sorry for all of this.”

On April 21, the NFL announced Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore of the Detroit Lions and Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season. The league also said at the time Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams of the Lions would be suspended for the team’s first six regular season games of the 2023 season for violating the gambling policy.

The Lions subsequently released Cephus and Moore and said Berryhill and Williams’ suspensions are “for other gambling policy violations, including betting from an NFL facility on non-NFL games.” Berryhill was later waived by the team.

Cephus, Moore and Toney, like Rodgers and Berry, would be suspended through at least the end of the 2023 season and can petition for reinstatement after the season ends.

More than 100 million people are under air quality alerts Friday morning from Wisconsin to Vermont and down to North Carolina as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to waft south, though conditions are expected to improve slowly into the holiday weekend.

Storms Thursday brought some relief from the smoke in parts of the Midwest, and more rain there Friday should provide more. But smoke may dissipate less quickly in the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic, where Friday’s storms will be more isolated.

“Air quality is expected to improve in the short term as a combination of thunderstorm activity and dispersion of smoke will ultimately result in improving air quality conditions for much of the country heading into the weekend,” the National Weather Service said.

More than 500 active wildfires raging across Canada have tanked the air quality across parts of that country and the United States. As of early Friday, Toronto topped a list of the world’s major cities with the worst air quality, followed by Washington, DC, according to IQAir.

Detroit, which topped the same list on Thursday evening, ranked fourth early Friday, while New York City was sixth, the website showed.

On Friday, the United States’ worst air quality is expected to span from Michigan to Ohio and into the Mid-Atlantic, including Washington, DC.

The air in those areas is expected to be rated a level 3 of 6 “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or a level 4 of 6 “unhealthy” on the US Air Quality Index developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Current air quality ratings can be found on AirNow.gov, a partnership of agencies including the EPA.

“Unhealthy for sensitive groups” typically includes the elderly, young children, those with certain chronic illnesses and outdoor workers.

In New York, a statewide air quality health advisory will remain in effect through Friday, urging residents to take necessary preventative measures – like masking – to stay safe outdoors, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. “With ground-level smoke more visible and air quality continuing to reach unhealthy levels in many parts of the state, we encourage New Yorkers to take precautions to protect their health,” she said.

The western and central parts of New York along with the eastern Lake Ontario region are forecast Friday to reach the “unhealthy” air quality threshold, the governor’s office said. Other areas in the state could see air rated in the less severe “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category.

Canada Day fireworks in Montreal canceled

Canada’s Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia provinces had some of that nation’s worst air quality Thursday night, according to IQAir.

The impacts of the fires have prompted Canadian officials to cancel Canada Day fireworks in Montreal scheduled for Saturday, though other festivities are planned.

While forecasters weren’t sure about Saturday’s air quality, the cancellation decision was “in solidarity,” said Stéphane Guertin, president of Tandem Communications, the event organizer.

Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record, with scientists warning such intense blazes are becoming more common as the planet warms. Smoke from the flames can travel thousands of miles, putting millions more people in harm’s way.

Wildfire smoke is particularly dangerous because it contains particulate matter, or PM2.5, a tiny but dangerous pollutant. When inhaled, it can travel deep into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It comes from sources including the combustion of fossil fuels, dust storms and wildfires. The particulate matter has been linked to health problems including asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses.

A heat wave in parts of the South and Mississippi Valley is peaking and a new one is building in the West on Friday, putting more than 70 million people in those areas under heat alerts ahead of the holiday weekend.

In the mid- to lower Mississippi River Valley and the Deep South, temperatures on Friday will again near or top 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Little Rock, Arkansas; and New Orleans are under excessive heat warnings, as heat and humidity may combine to make temperatures feel like 105 to 115 degrees.

This continues distressing, deadly heat that parts of the South has experienced for days. Eleven people died in recent days due to heat-related illnesses in Texas’ Webb County, which includes Laredo, and at least two people died from the heat in Louisiana’s Caddo Parish this month, officials said.

Parts of Texas have sweltered under triple-digit temperatures for more than two weeks – but the state is seeing signs of relief. Dallas was not under any heat alert Friday morning as temperatures there dip to more typical summer values.

“Although a few locations across Central and East Texas may reach advisory criteria, the prevalence of 105 heat indices will be far less widespread, and our protracted stretch of advisories/warnings for heat will come to an end,” the National Weather Service office in Dallas said.

Heat across the rest of the South is expected to follow a similar pattern to Dallas, with slight relief slowly occurring over the holiday weekend.

“An increase in showers and thunderstorms this weekend into next week during peak heating will bring some relief from the heat as the upper-level ridge weakens slightly across the region,” the National Weather Service office in Memphis said.

As parts of the South begin to see some relief, heat in the West is building.

Millions across Las Vegas and Phoenix will be under excessive-heat warnings beginning Saturday, with temperatures projected to soar above 110 degrees for both locations this weekend. And many parts of California are under excessive-heat warnings or heat advisories.

“Ridge of high pressure will quickly build across California and Nevada … . Looks like both our consecutive days below 100 stretch and latest date to reach 100 in the calendar year will come to an end tomorrow (Friday),” the National Weather Service office in Las Vegas said.

“This heat should be taken seriously and precautions need to be taken to prevent heat-related illnesses,” that office warned. “Avoid outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), drink extra water, take breaks in cool or shady locations, and wear light colored, light weight clothing.”

More than 600 people in the US are killed by extreme heat every year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As human-induced climate change forces temperatures to rise around the globe, officials urge people to take safety precautions during heat waves, including staying hydrated, avoiding leaving pets and kids in cars unattended and finding cool, indoor spaces to wait out the high temperatures.

“Goodbye, Kai Tak, and thank you.”

It’s been 25 years since Richard Siegel, Hong Kong’s then-director of civil aviation, bid farewell and turned off the lights at Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport.

On July 6, 1998, the city’s main air hub closed its doors, moving services to the bigger and swankier new Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok.

The retired facility was rechristened as Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the largest cruise terminal in town, in 2013.

The 25-year-old “new” airport has pulled off numerous achievements – it’s frequently named one of the top five airports in the world. It’s a repeat winner of Skytrax’s World’s Best Airport Dining award. It’s been the world’s largest cargo airport every year since 2010, except for 2020.

Yet fond memories remain for those who had a chance to fly through the old Kai Tak, or simply witness the remarkable airplane landings that made it famous.

One of the most difficult airports in the world

Before its closure in 1998, Kai Tak (the first recorded flight from the site took place in 1925) was regarded as one of the most difficult airports in the world for pilots to fly in and out of.

As it sat in the middle of Kowloon City, with a runway protruding into the sea, landing in Kai Tak was a hair-raising event even for experienced pilots.

Former Cathay Pacific Airways’ general manager of operations and now-pilot instructor Russell Davie has more than 30 years of flying experience.

He remembers Kai Tak fondly.

Daryl Chapman, a teacher and aviation photographer from Britain who has lived in Hong Kong since 1987, spent countless hours photographing the amazing scenes of large aircraft swooping in over the Hong Kong skyline. (See a gallery of his work above.)

“Kai Tak was very different to most international airports because it was right in the city,” recalls Chapman. “Lion Rock (a prominent hill in Hong Kong) blocks the standard straight-in approach; thus planes had to make that special turn over Kowloon City while landing on runway 13.”

“This was quite a challenge, especially in strong wind conditions,” Davie says. “As Cathay pilots, we had plenty of practice and became very adept at flying the approach.

“The approach was quite a challenge for pilots from other airlines, especially in more demanding flying conditions, as they might only come to Kai Tak once a year.”

Scariest moment: ‘We never saw the actual plane!’

Chapman recalls watching flights landing at Kai Tak during those “demanding flying conditions.”

“Being at the Kai Tak car park watching airplanes land in heavy rain ccould be very worrying,” he says. “The pilots could not see the runway, and landing over Kowloon, you had to be visual with the runway.

“Some (pilots) seemed to wait a little longer than others before they aborted the landing and went around for another go. Some would appear out of the low clouds on the approach path, then power up and vanish back into the clouds.”

The scariest memory for Chapman was the landing of an Air France 747-200 freighter contending with an extremely low ceiling.

“We could hear it coming but saw no sign of the landing lights. It was dark,” he says. “It got louder and louder; then you could see the glow of the red beacon under the plane. He overshot the turn and went right over the car park and control tower as he powered up and went around for another try.”

“That was very loud and worrying, as we never saw the actual plane!”

Fond memories of Kai Tak

Although the much larger and more modern Hong Kong International Airport (which opened in July 1998) is considered one of the best airports in the world, Kai Tak is still missed in some quarters.

It served Hong Kong for 73 years and was something of a city symbol, known to travelers worldwide.

“I have very fond memories of Kai Tak,” Davie said. “When I first joined Cathay Pacific, I spent many happy hours walking around Kowloon City every time I had a visitor in town, watching the aircraft fly low over the houses and shops.

“The approach looked really amazing from the ground, and also as a passenger, especially if you were seated on the right-hand side of the aircraft.”

Davie’s favorite route was arriving from Japan or Taiwan, northeast of Hong Kong.

“This allowed the pilot to fly the aircraft initially along the East Lamma shipping channel before turning around the end of Hong Kong Island, past Green Island, and heading toward the Checkerboard to make the final approach,” he remembers.

“Passengers lucky enough to have a window seat had a fantastic view of the south side of Hong Kong Island, then Central and the harbor before landing over Kowloon.”

He caused shockwaves around the world when he was filmed apparently carving his name into a wall of Rome’s 2,000-year-old Colosseum – and grinning when he realized he was caught on camera.

Now, he’s likely to be in shock himself.

The visitor who this week allegedly scratched “Ivan+Hayley 23” on a brick wall of one of the world’s most precious buildings, has been identified, according to Italy’s culture minister.

And after a spate of Americans trashing Italian heritage sites last year, some readers will be relieved to know that this time, the suspect isn’t from the US – he’s from the UK.

Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano tweeted Thursday that the Carabinieri, a military police force, had “identified the person presumed to be responsible for the uncivilized and absurd act committed at the Colosseum.”

“An act that offended everyone across the globe who appreciate the value of archaeology, of monuments and of history,” he added.

His tweet confirmed that “Ivan and Hayley” are thought to be the names of the tourist and his girlfriend, who was filmed watching on as he carved their names.

In a second tweet, Sangiuliano suggested that the case will go to trial.

Threat of prison

“I hope that justice will take its course, applying the law rigorously,” he wrote.

“If it comes to trial, the Ministry of Culture will appear as a plaintiff.”

1/2 Grato all’Arma dei @_Carabinieri_ per aver prontamente individuato il presunto responsabile del gesto incivile quanto assurdo commesso al #Colosseo. Un atto che ha offeso tutti coloro che nel mondo intero apprezzano il valore dell’archeologia, dei monumenti e della storia. pic.twitter.com/k2apyx026A

— Gennaro Sangiuliano (@g_sangiuliano) June 29, 2023

If convicted of a crime, the man could face a fine of at least 15,000 euros ($16,360) or up to five years in prison, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

Police “identified the main suspect through traditional investigations and photographic comparison,” they wrote.

“The carabinieri have confirmed that that it is a couple, a man and a woman, resident in England.

“It should be noted that proceedings are at the preliminary investigation stage so the suspect must be considered innocent until any final [court] ruling.”

Sangiuliano added in a statement that a government bill that would “make those who outrage our heritage answer for it personally” is currently passing through parliament. The bill would hold vandals responsible “including in terms of assets,” he said.

“People who cause damage must pay.”

Tourists vandalizing the Colosseum is sadly nothing new. In 2020, an Irish tourist was reported to the police for allegedly carving his initials into a wall.

Last August, an American couple were caught carving their initials into the Arch of Augustus, a 2,000-year-old monument beside the Colosseum.

Caroline Wozniacki, a former world No. 1 and the 2018 Australian Open champion, has announced she’s returning to tennis.

Wozniacki, now 32, had retired from the sport following the 2020 Australian Open after a 15-year career, winning 30 singles titles. She and her husband, former NBA player David Lee, have two children.

“Over these past three years away from the game I got to make up for lost time with my family, I became a mother and now have two beautiful children I am so grateful for,” Wozniacki said in an Instagram post.

“But I still have goals I want to accomplish. I want to show my kids that you can pursue your dreams no matter your age or role. We decided as a family it’s time. I’m coming back to play and I can’t wait!”

In a first-person piece for Vogue, Wozniacki said she felt in late 2022 that she had been hitting the ball better than she had ever been and decided she “had to get back out there.”

“So I’m going to play the US Open,” Wozniacki said in the Vogue story. “There’s just an electric atmosphere in New York that I can’t get enough of, and I’ve played so well there for years and years.

“Also, David was a New York Knick for five seasons – we both love it there. I’ll start out playing in Montreal just to get back into the groove, and then we’ll all head to New York. After that, I’ll have a couple of months to prepare for Australia, and we’ll take it from there. The Paris Olympics are definitely a goal too.

“How long will I be able to play at my highest level – a year, two years, three years? I don’t know. But I know that five years from now, when the kids are in school, it will be too late. I’m not going to make any bold predictions – but if I didn’t believe in myself, I wouldn’t be doing this: I’m too competitive to just show up and not feel like I’m going to be one of the best players out there.”

The US Tennis Association (USTA) announced on Thursday that it will be giving Wozniacki a wild card into the women’s singles main draw of the this year’s US Open.

The Danish star also referenced playing with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which she was diagnosed with in 2018, in the Vogue story.

“Of course, with my RA, I’ve been paying careful attention to how my body is reacting. And, honestly? So far, so good,” Wozniacki said. “The long break seems to have done wonders in terms of recovery, and mentally, I’m fresh. I’m not putting as much pressure on myself, but at the same time I know when I’m out there, I’m going to be fighting.”

Inter Miami chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson said that “terms are agreed” between the club and Argentinian forward Lionel Messi.

Earlier this month, in an interview posted by Spanish outlets SPORT and Mundo Deportivo, Messi announced his decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for Major League Soccer (MLS).

At the time, the 36-year-old said that the deal wasn’t completed “one hundred percent,” and on Thursday Henderson provided an update on the transfer.

“With regard to Leo, terms are agreed, but we are working on the paperwork with Major League Soccer,” Henderson, who was at an introductory press conference for new manager Tata Martino, told reporters.

“Those are going to take time to finish, but we hope that there’s a time in mid-, late-July that he’s ready to go. That’s just going to be up to how he finishes all the paperwork.”

Messi and Martino have a previous connection. Both worked together with the Argentina national team, reaching the final of the 2015 Copa América in Chile and the 2016 United States Centennial Cup. They also coincided while at Barcelona during the 2013-2014 season.

Last week, the Miami Herald reported that Messi, a World Cup winner with Argentina last year, is expected to make his Inter Miami debut on July 21.

Regarded as one of the sport’s greatest ever players, Messi spent 17 trophy-laden seasons with Barcelona before moving to PSG for two years.

His influence on soccer in the United States is already being felt with ticket prices for Inter Miami matches soaring by more than 1,000% in the minutes after the move to MLS was first reported.