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Fomer Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas: No Player Is Not For Sale
Lalas believes Landon Donovan transfer an option for the right price.
Jul 15, 2010 9:10:00 PM
Goal.com
In an apparent contradiction to the remarks of Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber, who indicted that star Landon Donovan is off-limits to transfer offers, former Los Angeles Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas believes it's just a matter of a high enough offer.
"No player is not for sale." Lalas stated on ESPN, where he now works as an analyst and commentator.
Unlike most leagues, where the teams own the contracts of individual players, MLS exists as a single-entity system and the league holds the player contracts. Recently, though, there has been more room for owners of different teams to act independently, such as bringing in a designated player with league approval.
Donovan is considered one of the league's success stories. He arrived as a teenager on an extended loan from Bayer Leverkusen, who eventually sold him to the LA Galaxy. Except for a short stint there and also with Bayern Munich, Donovan had only played in MLS until a recent successful loan tenure with Everton in England. Donovan also had a good showing for the USA at the 2010 World Cup, scoring three goals.
"I don’t doubt the fact that commissioner Garber and everyone recognizes his importance to the league and to the Galaxy, but if there was ever a moment for him to be sold, this is it," Lalas said.
However, now that Donovan appears to be reconciling with his estranged actress wife, Bianca Kajlich, there may be extra incentive for the player to remain in Southern California.
"The most important part of this equation is Landon Donovan, what he wants and what he’s going to do," Lalas acknowledged. "By all accounts, he’s very happy in the United States, and with the Galaxy, but it’s fun to speculate that if he said he wanted to go - what is the value of Landon Donovan right now to the Galaxy and to the league?"
Commissioner Garber said before the World Cup that the league would not accept less for Donovan than it had for it's largest outgoing transfer in history, which would place Donovan, at minimum, at about the $10 million dollar mark.
If the league does not capitalize on Donovan's value now, Lalas doesn't forsee a better offer in the future for the 28-year-old Donovan.
"His value right now is at an all-time high," Lalas pointed out. "He’s proven that he can succeed not just in MLS, but overseas, in the EPL and internationally."
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
"No player is not for sale." Lalas stated on ESPN, where he now works as an analyst and commentator.
Unlike most leagues, where the teams own the contracts of individual players, MLS exists as a single-entity system and the league holds the player contracts. Recently, though, there has been more room for owners of different teams to act independently, such as bringing in a designated player with league approval.
Donovan is considered one of the league's success stories. He arrived as a teenager on an extended loan from Bayer Leverkusen, who eventually sold him to the LA Galaxy. Except for a short stint there and also with Bayern Munich, Donovan had only played in MLS until a recent successful loan tenure with Everton in England. Donovan also had a good showing for the USA at the 2010 World Cup, scoring three goals.
"I don’t doubt the fact that commissioner Garber and everyone recognizes his importance to the league and to the Galaxy, but if there was ever a moment for him to be sold, this is it," Lalas said.
However, now that Donovan appears to be reconciling with his estranged actress wife, Bianca Kajlich, there may be extra incentive for the player to remain in Southern California.
"The most important part of this equation is Landon Donovan, what he wants and what he’s going to do," Lalas acknowledged. "By all accounts, he’s very happy in the United States, and with the Galaxy, but it’s fun to speculate that if he said he wanted to go - what is the value of Landon Donovan right now to the Galaxy and to the league?"
Commissioner Garber said before the World Cup that the league would not accept less for Donovan than it had for it's largest outgoing transfer in history, which would place Donovan, at minimum, at about the $10 million dollar mark.
If the league does not capitalize on Donovan's value now, Lalas doesn't forsee a better offer in the future for the 28-year-old Donovan.
"His value right now is at an all-time high," Lalas pointed out. "He’s proven that he can succeed not just in MLS, but overseas, in the EPL and internationally."
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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