Here’s a good question MLS needs to ask itself: should a league that describes itself as not being dependent on the international transfer market be selling young stars like Jozy Altidore instead of building a foundation and marketing campaign around them? The Newark Star Ledger’s Frank Giase points out that that is very definitely the question MLS needs to answer before the likes of Altidore and Brad Guzan are swept away when the transfer window opens in June.
“The league is moving forward, and it is going to be on the back of what we’re able to do with youth development in this country and the kind of players we’re able to develop domestically,” MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis says. “That’s an absolute priority for us.”
So why sell a future star like Altidore, Giase asks? Because it works like that in every other league around the world: little fish feeding the bigger fish in Spain, Italy and England. Developing and selling talent is the name of this game. So what are the ramifications if Altidore leaves the New York Red Bulls this summer? “Probably none,” says Giase, aside from the Red Bulls losing a great player. Besides, there will be others, and the money would help pay for the arrival of more international stars like David Beckham. It’s the circle of soccer.