Mexico international Carlos Vela is happy in San Sebastian with Real Soceidad, for now, but he has candidly alluded to an offer from Major League Soccer over the summer.
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Vela, 26, has scored 57 goals in 159 outings for David Moyes’ side, plus adding 34 assists along the way, and since returning to the Mexican national team setup following many years out of the picture through his own choice, Vela has been included in El Tri’s 32-man provisional roster for the CONCACAF Confederations Cup playoff against the U.S. national team at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Oct. 10.
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As for his club career, the former Arsenal striker told Efe News Agency that he was offered the chance to join a club that was “closer to my country” but, for now, he will remain at Real Sociedad but mentioned he will reassess things in January, which could be wise given Sociedad’s poor start to the La Liga campaign with no goals scored and only two points to their name through the opening three matches.
Vela’s current deal runs until 2018 after he signed a new four-year contract in 2014.
What do you make of this?“There were various options and they were interesting because some of them would have allowed me to be closer to my country and those make you have doubts about what you want and what is most appealing but they didn’t come through and so I am continuing here,” Vela said. “That is over and it is no longer in my hands and I can do nothing about it at this moment.”
“Until January I will be happy at Real. In January, I don’t know what may happen, things may happen once the transfer window is open. And the same for next summer. There will always be options.”
Vela’s talent is undoubted, and most clubs in MLS would break the bank to get him on board. His ability to score goals and run at opponents from wide or central areas is well-documented, but as we’ve seen with his compatriot Giovanni dos Santos leaving La Liga and signing in MLS for the LA Galaxy over the summer, there is a huge appetite to see Mexican players return to North America and play in MLS. Clubs, players and the league itself understands that.
Safe to say it will be an interesting next six months trying to figure out if Vela lands anywhere else. If it is in MLS, his experience of playing in the UEFA Champions League and for Mexico at big tournaments would be invaluable for whoever picks him up, but it is likely that MLS would have to shell out one of its largest transfer fees (upwards of $10 million) to sign Vela.
Did somebody say, “jugador designado?”
