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LAFC club legend Carlos Vela walked into the training facility on Monday as a player for the first time in nine months, re-claiming his untouched locker, and sharing hugs with teammates in a Black and Gold family reunion.
“When nine months ago the league ended, I didn’t realize it was the last game,” Vela shared. “After all that long period it was missing something. In the end, it was [about] having a good end, knowing it’s the end of the career. That’s why we’re back. After all that many years you have to end in a good way.”
A week earlier, LAFC communicated to Vela’s representatives that if he wanted to return, it would be now or never with the MLS roster freeze deadline approaching on Friday, September 13th. Immediately, the fire was reignited to strike a deal between the two but with only a few days remaining they were up against the clock.
Evidenced by the fact that LAFC never gave Vela a formal goodbye throughout the season, there was always a desire for him to return but the restrictions of MLS roster rules led to frustration on both sides with weeks turning to months as they searched for a resolution.
Luckily, “for reasons we don’t need to rehash with budgets and our constraints,” LAFC General Manager and Co-President John Thorrington explained to a select group of media, “that did change this summer.”
#LAFC GM John Thorrington on what changed in negotiations with Carlos Vela,
“For reasons we don’t need to rehash with budgets and our constraints…that did change this summer.” pic.twitter.com/LLjmBw8xR0
— Justin Ruderman (@JustinRuderman_) September 19, 2024
Although Thorrington bought more than he sold this summer, allocation income from the transfer of Mamadou Fall to FC Barcelona and opting for the new MLS U22 roster structure helped provide the funds for Vela’s signing (and potentially more moves next season).
On the flip side, Vela, who was always a designated player for LAFC in the past…
Source link : https://sbisoccer.com/2024/09/behind-the-scenes-of-carlos-velas-return-to-lafc
Author : Justin Ruderman
Publish date : 2024-09-20 18:05:10
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