ABSENT MAN WANTS TRANSFER
Yesterday Rundown included the news that Justin Meram, despite wanting a trade, showed his employer the respect to turn up as expected for preseason training.
Sadly, Lee Nguyen is lacking the integrity to do the same for his employers, the New England Revolution. Nguyen broke his silence to speak to ESPN FC’s Paul Tenorio, claiming that he’s paid his dues with the Revs and wants a different challenge at this point in his career.
New England head coach Brad Friedel told MLSsoccer.com last week that the club won’t trade Nguyen, a stance GM Mike Burns reiterated after Nguyen failed to show for the first day of Revs preseason earlier this week.
“I hope things can work out in a manner that benefits everyone,” Nguyen told Tenorio. “I’ve paid my dues and it gets harder and harder to watch so many players on the Revs and in MLS get rewarded year after year, despite not performing anywhere close to what I have done.”
Rundown suggests showing up for training would be step one in gaining the move he desires.
CARMONA UPDATE
In an update to a previous news article featured on Rundown, FOX Sports Chile and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Doug Roberson are reporting that a deal had been reached for Atlanta United to transfer Carlos Carmona to Colo-Colo.
Just a couple of days ago Atlanta United’s GM Carlos Bocanegra flatly denied that the 30-year-old Chilean international would be heading anywhere.
Things do move fast in the world of MLS.
TORRES UPDATE
Much like the above story, it appears that despite Houston Dynamo forward Erick “Cubo” Torres telling a local paper that he “made the decision of staying here in Houston,” it was revealed that he’s actually heading to Mexico.
Mexico City-based Pumas UNAM announced the acquisition of Cubo Torres on social media and Dynamo followed that up with an announcement of their own yesterday.
Yesterday this column said; “Rundown expects to see him in Mexico very soon.” Turns out Rundown was bang on the money.
CREW SIGN MUCH NEEDED LEFT BACK
Columbus Crew lost two of their left backs this offseason, with Jukka Raitala selected in the Expansion Draft and Waylon Francis traded to Seattle after declining his option, but they have filled that position with a star in the making.
The Crew have announced that they have acquired Milton Valenzuela on loan from Newell’s Old Boys, with an option to purchase his contract after the season. The 19-year-old joins Columbus as a young Designated Player with the club utilising Targeted Allocation Money to buy down Jonathan Mensah’s contract in 2018.
Valenzuela joins the Crew after a brief professional career with Newell’s, making 16 total appearances since his debut on Feb. 6, 2016. He also appeared in two matches for the club in Copa Argentina.
“Milton is a talented, young player who has a high pedigree at both the professional and youth international level,” said sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter in a club statement. “His skillset has allowed him to gain critical experience playing in one of the continent’s most competitive leagues while featuring prominently for Argentina’s Under-20 National Team. Milton has the character and determination to succeed in MLS and we are excited to welcome him to Columbus Crew SC, where we expect him to make an immediate impact.”
At the international level, Valenzuela has featured for Argentina’s Under-20 squad, earning 10 caps. The defender featured in eight of Argentina’s nine matches at the 2017 South American Youth Football Championship, making seven starts while helping Argentina qualify for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea. Valenzuela also made two appearances in the group stage of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“MLS gets better year after year and good players continue to go there. In the last few years I think the League has become more attractive – I’ve watched a few games and I’ve enjoyed the soccer,” said Valenzuela in an interview with the club. “Last season I followed Columbus Crew SC closely and they have a great team. I think that helped me decide to join the group. As I was saying, I followed the club last year and they had a great year. [Crew SC] Came up short in the match against Toronto, but overall I think they performed well all year.”
Any Other Business…
LAFC will host German giants Borussia Dortmund and US men’s national team star Christian Pulisic in the first international friendly at Banc of California Stadium. The fixture is expected to take place following the end of the Bundesliga season in May… Gregory Van der Wiel is close to completing a deal to join Toronto FC, according to Italian reporter Gianlugi Longari, the transfer was previous discussed on Rundown… Former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has admitted he turned down offers from Europe and Asia to continue the work he started with Chicago Fire last season.
