I just read (http://www.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=144000&cpid=22&title=Reds+monitor+Basturk+situation ) that many of Leverkusen's top players' contracts will no long be vaild if they get relegated (not out of the ordinary). They mentioned players like Neuvill, Basturk, etc. Does anyone know if/how this will affect Donovan's contract? I wonder if it's possible for MLS to own Donovan outright at a bargain basement price...
all of this is off a hunch... 1) Donovan's contract does not have a relegation release clause 2) They want/need money and offer to sell him for a cheaper asking price
Or he could be forcibly recalled back to Leverkusen where, by the end of next season, he will have singlehandedly won promotion back into the top flight and become the hero of both Bayer and US supporters. Actually, I'm not really a big Donovan fan, but watching Leverkusen on FSW this season is just so tragic and painful, one wonders if he was really so unrefined to be left on the bench.
...he gets the cr@p kicked out of him by every hack in the lower leagues. I don't see Landon being able to help claw Leverkusen back to the Bundesliga, unless the club sells him and spends the money on someone who can help in the promotion fight.
I have the answer to your question my good sir. The American media overstates the truth to it's viewers. Bayer Leverkusen never signed Landon Donovan to a contract......they signed him to a developmental contract, which has been invalid for some time now. Hope I have helped. Sebastian
They may have signed him to a developmental contract when LD was 16, but they do own the rights to him until 2007 (or was it 2008?)...