Figo Might Actually Be Going to MLS for Real (Boo. BOO!)
By: Martha | December 31st, 2007
Unlike all the previous Luis Figo-to-MLS stories, this one comes from an actual, fairly reliable newspaper: Correio da Manha is one of the biggest dailies in Portugal and has a whole lot more credibility than your typical sports rag (even if the Portuguese ones seem to make things up slightly less often than those in Spain and Italy). Bugger.
So, according to the Carreio, Figo has signed a two-year contract with AEG, the management behemoth that, among other things, own the utterly loathsome LA Galaxy, the Houston Dynamo and the Chicago Fire. (None of which, you may have noticed, are either RBNY or anywhere on the east coast, which would be the only stomach-able MLS destinations for the Portuguese. Obviously.)
The paper says the alleged deal is worth €7 million/year (though C4 for some reason have translated that as $7 million for two seasons, which is a slightly different payday), which certainly goes a long way toward explaining why he’d agree to such a thing, even if it did mean living in Houston for two years. One wonders, though, if he’s ever seen the league, or spoken with his Real Madrid homie David Beckham about the level of player over here — given Backham’s periodic on-pitch expression of sheer disbelief, it’s hard to imagine he’d tell anyone to join him in MLS.
(Of course, since it was just this time last year that the massive Al Ittihad deal was agreed, so maybe it’s safe to ignore this one a little bit longer.)
ETA: If there’s any truth to this story, it looks like he won’t go to Houston: They don’t want and can’t afford him.
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You know, this was actually an idea that I had: the US could have the European Players Geriatric League. When the superstars of Europe got too old to play there, they could come here and extend their careers for 6 or 7 years. It is win-win. We get the influx of money (and therefore good players) here while they get to play. I love it!
And here I was all depressed cause he said he was retiring at the end of the year (I KNEW it!). If he comes to LA, I could actually see him play a bit.
GO FIGO!Posted from
United States
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If Figo can be convinced to Houston, maybe someone can be convinced to Seattle. It’s not New York, but it’s not Texas…
Posted from
United States -
I have already pre-ordered my MLS season tickets here in Seattle. Supposedly we are getting a team in 2008 (and the sounders dont count).
Posted from
United States -
Of the three destinations, Houston is the only one without a DP playing. Of course, they are also the best team of the three.
Is it possible for Figo and Blano to play together??
Would AEG want Figo & Beckham on the same team? And would it look totally unfair to have 3 DP’s on a team (since technically Lando should be until the rules were “adjusted” in Galaxy’s favor).
Since AEG’s focus is probably on ticket sales, then they more than likely send him to Houston.
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United States -
After re-reading the articles and comments about Houston being an undesirable destination, compared to NY or Seattle (which I agree, is a beautiful city) – I realized that Houston’s undesirable weather and “God Bless Texas” spirit is comparable to that of the Middle East’s undesirable weather and “cultural” fanaticism… Ha ha ha
*No disrespect intended to either the Muslims in the Middle East or Texans …
Just throwing a friendly jibe
Posted from
United States -
They might as well send him to LA and rename it the New York Cosmos
Posted from
United States -
the US could have the European Players Geriatric League.
Sorry, my club’s cornered that market already. Forza Milan.
Posted from
India -
Correio da Manhã is not the most reliable of newspapers. It is not a rumor full sports paper, but it is a tabloid in the mould of the New York Post.
And not only that, its sports section is not the most accurate. Example – A couple of months ago CM noticed Rosina, who plays for Torino, was being courted by Benfica… They were the only newspaper to say so and soon after this news was forgoten.
Figo might actualy go to the MLS, CM could be right on this one but, at the moment, I would not give much credit to it.
Cheers and happy new year.
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Portugal -
Nuno, I am much reassured, thank you!
(And Nolan, no team with Landon Donovan on it can ever take the name of the Cosmos. He’s not worthy.)
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United States -
Can’t say I disagree with you, but the clear favouritism MLS shows to the LA Galaxy is clearly trying to reproduce the Cosmos, even if they are (thankfully) failing miserably.
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United States -
Doubt it. But all three of these teams would be wrong for Figo if he did come stateside. He should go to Red Bull. There’s a huge Portuguese contingent in the city and north jersey, particularly Newark,NJ (where the new stadium is being built). They would go batshit nuts if they got to root for Mr. “golden generation” week in and week out. And the east coast’s biggest disappointment team — Red Bull — would have an over-the-hill former world class baller with media appeal to somewhat counter balance “ICON” Beckham at the Galaxy, the west coast’s most disappointing team with a media tycoon in uniform. It’s a nice wash.
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United States -
PocketKings, boy is that DP rule complicated.
From my take of the situation if the figures of Figo’s salary are accurate (and Martha by the way, Gazzetta is quoting €7m/year as well… for a contract of 2 years total… hence perhaps the C4 mistake), I would have guessed that the salary cap would make a Figo move to LA impossible. But as you mentioned, Donovan isn’t considered a DP despite his salary well exceeds the cap.
I wonder if the other teams would object to a Figo-to-LA transfer, or if they’d just bow their heads down and grumble.
Posted from
Italy -
Here’s the link to the Gazzetta article by the way:
http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Estero/Primo_Piano/2008/01_Gennaio/01/figorui.shtmlI translated most of it on mCalcio.
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Italy -
Thanks, Marco. Since the source of the story was the CM article I liked, I assume their salary amounts are going to be correct. (And they’re the ones La Gazzetta would quote, since they can read, unlike C4, apparently (: )
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United States -
Mctalian, you’re exactly right. The only other team that would make sense in terms of demographics is the Revs, since there’s a substantial Portuguese population in and around Boston and, I think, Providence, but they sure aren’t going to make any changes right now. The fantasy of Figo+Red Bull Park actually getting done must have Red Bull drooling. Neither is likely to happen, of course, but it sounds sounds nice.
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United States -
Martha, Me and the 34 other Red Bull fans are excited about the pending stadium. Problem is, state environmental officials have proven more expensive than usual to pay off and the local mafia bosses haven’t been totally cooperative with letting the unions work. So, alas, it has been many years in the promising, and not many years in the getting built. Still, the Dons have reached an agreement, we hear, so we expect the stadium by 2009. They’re calling it a mini “Emirates.” While that’s a bit much, the animated renditions are pretty spiffy.
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United States -
Mctalian, make that 35 — I’ve got a season ticket and everything, though there have been times when I wonder why. I don’t know about you, but I loved watching the Red Bull Park webcam last year — that pile of dirt, and the periodic driving of trucks really made me feel optimistic about the project. (I do love how the reboot looks, though, and if it’s anything like the Emirates — the only EPL ground I’ve ever been to — I suppose I can wait a year or five.)
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United States -
Martha, Season ticket holder? You must be a masochist lol….but I’m with you…I’m stoked for the new digs. It’s depressing watching them run past the 10, 15, 20 yard line etc. in a stadium that’s 80 percent empty. To get more than a little corny here and quote field of dreams, “if you build it, they will come.” A swanky stadium built just for football, “soccer,” will draw crowds. It will be such a better experience.
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United States -
The east is not the only Portuguese-related location. There is a great ammount of Portuguese people in San Jose (I am one of them) and i’d love nothing more than to see Figo throw on a Quakes jersey as our DP.
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United States -
C’mon Figo, we need you at FC Hollywood aka LA Galaxy. :p It would be awesome to have him in MLS. I hope the numpties at AEG can make this happen. I might renew my season tix then. Right now I am protesting the Beckham ripoff.
Posted from
United States -
Well, now he says he has “something else in mind” so who knows where he will end up.
http://www.daily-calcio.com/index.php?option=news&task=viewarticle&sid=13491&PHPSESSID=4de0b0006d2dac7db4de94ef1b35a8b6Posted from
United States -
Johonna, that’s just weird punctuation of the interview he gave today — the “something else” is this season with Inter, nothing exciting like bear-wrestling, or playing in the US.
Posted from
United States -
Josh, you’re making me nervous — I’d been telling myself NYC was the most likely spot if he comes in a few years, competition isn’t good!
Posted from
United States
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