Ives Galarcep of the North Jersey Herald says that Danny Szetela’s transfer to Racing de Santander of Spain’s First Division was the right choice. The New Jersey native was widely tipped with a move to Serie A giant AS Roma, but later declined due to the more attractive prospect of first-team action with the La Liga club.
“Roma was a great option,” Szetela said. “I remember when I was little, and my father was still alive, that we would watch the Italian games after going to church on Sundays. I thought about that and what kind of club Roma is, but I had to think about going somewhere that I could fight for a place right away. At Racing, I saw that chance to grow. I’m still only 20, people forget that sometimes.”
Galarcep applauds Szetela and Szetela’s agent, Shep Messing, for making what he believes is a mature decision. “Szetela fell victim to the trend that touches so many quality American soccer prospects. Expectations get heaped on them at an early age and when those players don’t blossom quickly enough they are deemed failures.” The weight of expectation has hurt the likes of Landon Donovan, Bobby Convey and certainly Freddy Adu; 17-year-old Jozy Altidore of the New York Red Bulls is the latest to feel it. But Szetela wisely “chose the opportunity for playing time and a better environment to grow as a player over more money and the prestige of a bigger club,” Galarcep says. Perhaps he can lead future U.S. prospects by example.