Americans Abroad

MLS Denies Donovan Deal Done

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber stated that any loan arrangement with Bayern Munich for the striker has not even begun to take place.

Nov 22, 2008 10:01:17 AM

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MLS commissioner Don Garber (ISI)

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Landon Donovan

LOA ANGELES, California -- Major League Soccer Commisioner Don Garber denied that any loan deal had been arranged with Bayern Munich for American soccer star landon Donovan.

"We haven’t heard anything from Bayern Munich about Landon going on loan to that team," said Garber at a Friday press conference.

The Los Angeles Galaxy forward, who can also play as an attacking or right midfielder, has been on training with the German club for days at the invitation of coach Juegen Klinnsman.

Donovan impressed enough to draw compliments from both Klinnsman and manager Uli Hoeness, who indicated that the American international would be sought for as the team's primary loan deal for the winter window, even to the exclusion of all other options.

Garber did indicate that MLS is not against loaning out any of their players, per se.

"We've had lots of loans," said Garber. "We’re not playing on the international calendar. We have a longer offseason than any other soccer league. When you have a player who is willing to say, 'Let me go play,' I don’t see how we’re not supportive of that."

Another Galaxy player, David Beckham, was cited as an example of a recent successful loan arrangement.

"If David Beckham wants to go play for A.C. Milan and get that experience and come back more fit, it’s not a bad thing for us," Garber stated.

Yet he also insisted that no such deal had been arranged for Donovan.

"Contrary to what you may have read about in the press, Landon Donovan is not on loan to Bayern Munich," Garber said.

--Andrea Canales, Goal.com

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