Riquelme to the MLS?

papa5murf · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:00 pm

I honestly do not think the MLS would shell out $15 million on a player. I don't feel it would be a good investment. Riquelme is a great player and will bring quality to the MLS, but $15 million is a bit much for a league that tends to struggle to even break even.

Quote:

There are multiple reports breaking out today in the Spanish language media including one on the national news agency of Argentina's web site as well as on ESPN Deportes website, that have the 29 year old Argentine playmaker moving from Boca Juniors to somewhere in MLS for a transfer fee of $15 Million dollars.

Translation:

The playmaker of Boca Juniors receives an offer of $15,000,000 from MLS, which wants to allocate him to a team in the league.

MLS is an single-entity system, since its governing body is the one that hires the players and then later distributing them among the different clubs, making the competition more stable.

For example, Englishman David Beckham, the Mexican Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Argentines Marcelo Gallardo and Schelotto play for different teams, but the contracts were offered directly to the players. (They were free transfers)

Therefore this offer, extremely tempting to Riquelme, has the obstacle of Boca Juniors, something that, for example, Claudio Lopez did not have less than a month ago when he was added to MLS after being released by Racing Club.

The report originated from this Monday's Télam in Guadalajara, where Boca will play Atlas in the Copa Libertadores.

This would not be the first time Riquelme was linked to MLS. Previously he had been linked to a move to D.C. United, but with Marcelo Gallardo filling the playmaking role, he is likely headed elsewhere, if he comes at all (see also: Veron, Juan Sebastian). Though it may not be wise to count DC out entirely. They have a spare Designated Player slot (snatched from Colorado in a trade for an out of contract Christian Gomez) and it would make sense for them to stock pile two Argentine national team playmakers for the intense international schedule they have this summer, though Houston or New England may be more likely destinations if what we are hearing is true.

G_Man · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:06 pm

Class player. Surely he wont be going to USA. Not yet anyway

papa5murf · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:05 am

I think he's having too much fun at Boca Juniors right now to want to come to the MLS.

shaggy · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:06 am

If you ask me he should be playingf for one of europes top clubs, hes still world class.

Riquelme to the MLS?

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