Mario Rodriguez at Sonnenhof Großaspach

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-20-M...yer-Roster-for-Northern-Ireland-Milk-Cup.aspx

 

In addition to the number of players from the Junior B league team (U-17) who just won promotion, two new additions are welcomed: Gunther Metz and Karten Luft (SV Darmstadt 98) and the US Junior National Team player Mario Rodrigues, from the LA Galaxy youth academy, will join the Red Devils.

Give or take what you took from google.

 

Are you assuming he will get 1st team action in Germany but not MLS?

 

Granted Reserve Team in Germany is a better situation than MLS reserve team.

 

He is going to be with the U-19 team not the reserve team.

 

Mendiola's HG deal should be official within the next month or so.

Galaxy might not have wanted to sign him either, they have McBean and Villarreal signed, but best of luck to Mario.

 

Good luck to Mario if true.

I'm interested to hear about this Mendiola business. The longer he stays in the country the better it is for us surely.

 

Same kid, and if the Pachuca business is resolved it'd make sense if the deal got done soon since he joined the Galaxy last July, and needs to be with the Galaxy for a year to qualify as a HG. He can trial with Man City and Arsenal all he wants, but a work permit will always be the issue. It also means that he has cleared up his residency status since he can leave and come back to the US at will. If and when Mendiola is signed by the Galaxy we should know at least whether he has his green card or not, judging by if he'll fill an international roster spot.

 

According to his Twitter, he just moved from San Bernardino to Los Angeles (hour away) and got his own place. I can only think of one reason for that....

But I don't want to turn this into a thread about Raul.

 

And you mentioned him first saying he'll be gone soon, and you're now backtracking

 

And where's your proof that Raul is the next to leave? Because he trialed at Man City and they liked him? Like Werdman89 pointed out, can you tell me how Raul would qualify for a UK work permit?

He's also been 18 for a couple months now, so he's been free to sign somewhere in Mexico or a league that doesn't really have non-EU rules like Germany.

And back to Mario, nobody really knows if the Galaxy wanted to sign him right now if they could. They have two HG FW's already signed in McBean and Villareal. If the Galaxy are going to sign more HG players, it will probably be MF's and DF's like Mendiola, Javan Torre, etc. Regardless, this is a good move for Mario.

 

Don't want to sidetrack the thread too much, but I've never heard anything definite on Mendiola's citizenship. can anyone confirm if he already has a green card or how close he is?

 

Chris Klein answers all questions related to Mario Rodriguez. He's signed with Kaiserslautern.

http://www.lagalaxy.com/blog/scoops...en-training-stint-rodriguez-joins-german-club

 

Yep, they will help him develop into his true potential great move by Mario.

 

Nobody on here knows for sure, but if/when he signs with MLS, it will be known whether he takes up an int'l spot or not. His mother is married to an American citizen, so my guess is that was the angle being pursued. As Werdman pointed out, he likely has a visa, otherwise he wouldn't have been allowed back in the U.S. legally after trialing with Man City.

There's a thread on the YNT forum that tackles the immigration issues.

Mario played his deck of cards well. Joined the Galaxy DA after Bradenton, committed to UCLA, and obviously had his eyes on Europe.

 

I don't think that FIFA takes kindly to national teams allowing players to represent them without a corresponding citizenship. If it is the case that he still doesn't have citizenship, then the US is taking a big risk:

• Milk Cup (7/2012)
• Marbella Cup (10/2012)

I would assume that the USSF has checked and double checked.

 

I think you have the players confused here. I don't think there is an question on Mario Rodriquez's US citizenship (he's on the rosters you linked; Mendiola isn't). NatsTeamFan was asking about the citizenship of Raul Mendiola. I don't think we have seen an update on Mendiola's citizenship lately.

 

My bad.

 

We've had non citizens play in the Milk Cup. They don't usually do it unless they think a player has a chance to get citizenship. THe Milk Cup isn't a FIFA tournament. It's basically just a club tournament where they use national team names. The only tournaments that matter are the U-17s, U-20s and Olympics.

 

Called up for U-20 camp preceding a closed door match vs. Venezuela:

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/12...d-to-u-s-u-20-roster-for-camp-in-florida.html

 

I keep checking periodically to find out how he is doing for Kaiserslautern's U-19 team, but it can be hard to get complete lineups. I will try to see what I can find out.

 

fussball.de should have complete line-ups for every game.

 

I can't read German. Someone relay how he's doing?

 

Not playing