Aperçu Pyunik

Former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin has agreed a deal to join Major League Soccer outfit Charlotte FC following a brief stint in Ligue 1. The French attacker is set to move to North Carolina as a Designated Player, cutting short his successful comeback in his homeland with Lens.

The 38-year-old defender wrote himself off years ago, and plenty of others have done the same since then. He is still here, though, against all odds for one final run.

Lionel Messi and Co. remain favorites, but strong starts from Nashville, San Jose and Vancouver have the league nicely poised heading into a long break.

Wilfried Zaha has left Charlotte FC and will return to parent club Galatasaray during Major League Soccer’s World Cup break, he announced Sunday. The forward’s yearlong loan had been extended through June 30, but with Charlotte out of action until mid-July, the Ivorian departs immediately. He was not named to Ivory Coast’s World Cup squad.