Mexico manager Miguel Herrera says a reported move to Major League Soccer won't affect Giovani dos Santos' standing with El Tri.
Speaking to reporters after El Tri’s scoreless draw against Honduras on Wednesday, "El Piojo" was asked whether Santos, who has 87 caps for Mexico and recently scored in a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica, might lose his spot if he moved to MLS from his current European club, La Liga side Villarreal.
“No. Why? He’ll have a team, maintain his game rhythm. There’s no reason it would affect anything," Herrera told reporters. "Teams try to sign important players as leading figures and if Galaxy has considered Gio [it is because] they think, and I think too, that they would be getting an important player. He would have to be a Designated Player. I don’t know if there has been an approach or not, I’m thinking about the tournament [Gold Cup]. But of course if he [signs for Galaxy and] keeps up the standard [of play] that he has and shows every game, I’ll be calm."
Back in LA, where the Galaxy are slowly working Steven Gerrard into the mix, head coach Bruce Arena maintained there was nothing to say – yet, at least.
“We haven’t signed anyone,” Arena said. “We have no comment on players until we sign them. I think that’s generally been the case during the years that I’ve been here.”
The 26-year-old Dos Santos, who can play a range of roles on the flanks or centrally, has been called into Mexico's squad for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. El Tri have been drawn into Group C and the six-time champs will kick off their tournament against Cuba at Soldier Field on July 9, with group-stage matches vs. Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago to follow.
The Galaxy are currently carrying their maximum allotment of three Designated Players: Robbie Keane, Omar Gonzalez and new arrival Steven Gerrard. But ESPN's Taylor Twellman suggested on Monday that MLS executives may be considering new signing mechanisms to court high-profile talent like Dos Santos and his Mexican teammate Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez,” a recurring subject of MLS transfer speculation whose name has been connected to the league again in recent weeks.
