Well, I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise after the way he's played in South Africa, but it looks like Rico is being tracked by Rennes: http://goal.com/fr/news/29/ligue-1/2009/06/27/1349638/ligue-1-un-autre-américain-à-rennes Article is in French, but you can get the gist of it. I believe at the end, it says his agent has confirmed discussions.
Big question is if MLS would sell him and at what price they want for him - I thought that 2009 was his last year under contract to the Dynamo going into this season, but I don't know if there is a team option on that or if he re-extended prior to the season. If he's likely to walk at the end of 2009 on a free transfer, you have to consider selling him.
I like to read the usmnt news & analysis forum for pure comedic purposes. According to them, Rico has been stinking it up.
They are idiots. He's been better than Bradley, easily. It's no surprise that we were holding our own against Italy before the red card, got PASTED by Brazil thru the middle of the field without him in the lineup and then went right back to competing mano a mano against Egypt and Spain when he was back in the lineup.
One of the ESPN British-sounding guys (so that ads to his credibility) put Rico on his list of 4 players who shined in the game against Spain.
Not me. Call me a pinko or whatever, but I'm against sponsors pasted across the fronts of jerseys. I'll wear my 2007 with "Dynamo" across the front until it disintegrates.
First off Congrats to Rico for one hell of a tourny. IMHO, he didn't play flawless (red card v. ITA, errant pass here and there), but he was very, very, very, very good. His interception and pass sprung LD for the second goal today was a thing of beauty. Regardless, he gets a bad wrap in the USMNT forum because there is somehow the perception that he isn't good with the ball at the international level. I counted one errant pass today and still the same schtick from those on the US boards. Oh well, who cares? The real sick thing for me is that it took an Edu injury for Clark to be called into the team and to play. Had Edu been healthy, Clark is here in Houston for the last three weeks. Sick when you consider how good he played.
Rico's role should be as a d-mid first and foremost, and whatever offense you get is a plus. The so-called "Number 10" role is the playmaker, etc. This is where Bradley did seem to get it in this tournament in the last few games by not playing guys out of position. The fact that Conor Casey is getting a run as a sub in these games tells me that barring injury, Ching is on the WC roster next year.
Good for him if it happens. He is married and has a kid. Take advantage of the pay day while he can. It will be bad for the Dynamo but good for him.
I never venture to the US forum of BS because 90% of the posts, threads, and users there are 100% retarded.
I commented on the article and told them they couldn't have him (but then again I might have said something about chickens)
Yep. These are the tards that keep crying for Beasley to be put in, when his best move is the backwards pass.
You must not have been there recently. These days Beasley seems to rank right above me on the depth chart in that part of BS
According to Sky, Rico's Agent has been contacted for information. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11811_5405043,00.html His representative Manuel Quintana said: "Rennes have asked for information."
What clubs has he been linked to in England, Italy and Spain? Gotta love post-tourney speculation. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. 'twould suck though.
ManU, Inter and Real?? No idea where that part came from, on second thought I know exactly where that came from but I have seen nothing on that anywhere.
And if Rico leaves, we can all blame Dre as apparently he is the insider/informer according to this on their message board:
When is Rico's MLS contract up? And by up I mean MLS has no more options and the player is free to walk. Because that could greatly impact what happens.
The guy needs to make hay while the sun is still shining. I hope he gets alot of money because he deserves it. The Dynamo won't be able to pay him the money he could get overseas. It may make his game even better to play in France and help him in his effort to play for the US in teh world cup next summer. We would miss him but we can just move Geoff Cameron into his slot and Eddie R. can slip back into his old slot.
We need to all come to grips very quickly that it is very likely the Dynamo could be looking to replace Rico (Euro), Holden (Euro, assuming a good GC), Weibel (age/injuries), Barrett (age/injuries) and Onstad (retirement). We've essentially already replaced Weibel & Barrett but Rico, Holden & Onstad will be tough to replace.