Yesterday in the Spanish Sports Daily Marca Juanele a forward on Zaragoza CF which is in Segunda Division stated that he would like to play in the MLS once his contract ends with Zaragoza which should be moving up to Primera if they remain on track for the remainder of the season. In todays Marca the Depor captain Fran basically said the same: Giving the lack of Spaniards playing in the MLS and those of us who have roots in Spain and support Spanish clubs in addition to MLS teams this could be a great blessing for us!! Here is the article below: http://www.marca.com/edicion/noticia/0,2458,297489,00.html (please just put the link) Saludos y viva er beti manque lopera! Pichi
1. How old is Fran? 2. I'd love to have Spaniards coming over here too, but remember, there are MAYBE two Spaniards who have ever succeeded outside of Spain. New England picked a Spanish striker (Mario A. Rosas?)up a few years ago who score once or twice in 10+ games. Metrostars were looking at a midfielder during this preseason who didn't work out. Would love to score someone like Javier Portillo, but it ain't gonna happen. Why would anyone want to leave paradise--I mean Spain--anyway?
Well no offense to Morales (who was playing in a 3rd division team when New England signed him) but Juanele and Fran are a heck of a lot better than him. Maybe two Spaniards who have ever succeeded outside of Spain? Quite an exageration. Just because the stars don't move away from Spain doesn't mean there are success stories outside of Spain. Personally I would find it great if they were to move here (Colorado specifically). However, I don't believe either one will move.
if MLS allows loan deal, may be Portillo will come for a few months in the summer. he looks rusty against Juventus on the 1st leg. He can learn something before returning to La liga in October.
Maybe it's because there's no reason for the good ones to ever leave? The only Spaniards who have left recently were ones who were crap to begin with and were looking for a change
As a Depor fan I really hope that Fran resigns with the team and finishes his career there. I do think that if he were to leave Spain the MLS could be a good move. As a Metro fan I would love to see him play for them, but I know that isn't going to happen. He would be good for a team like Colorado that is in need of a midfielder. He would bring alot of experience with him and would be good for a young league like the MLS. Juanele would also be a good player for MLS. He could definately help some team. However, being that he is only 32, I feel that he would follow the recent trend of Spaniards going to Mexico where he would earn more money. Juanele and Fran are definately in a different class than Morales.
That's what I keep thinking -- I'm sure there would be some European players looking to move to the States if the tradition, profile, and money came along with it. Maybe we as fans could all start a pool to bribe some players to come over...I think Raul would complement Donovan nicely...
Let's just hope that Spain becomes more popular with MLS' future players(youngsters). How you can't be awed by some of the skill there is beyond me....
Fran, Juanele in MLS? All I can say is wow. Now that might just be a vote of respect. The question is whether they become a Nowak or whether they'd pull a Mathaeus. Perhaps MLS could take them with a probationary period in which to show they would really contribute something and "be like Peter". G.