The LA Galaxy faithful were out in full force for Giovani Dos Santos’ introductory press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Of all the big name signings that have occurred in MLS this past summer, the latest addition by the Los Angeles Galaxy could have perhaps the biggest impact of all.
On Tuesday afternoon at the StubHub Center, the Galaxy introduced Mexican international Giovani Dos Santos as its third designated player, and while the narrative of the press conference is certainly what Dos Santos could bring to the Galaxy, the undercurrent of Dos Santos’ presence in LA and MLS at a crucial stage in his career could not be ignored.
“I’d like to thank Giovani and his family and his representatives for sticking with us, and ultimately having the confidence in us, the Galaxy, and our club to make this move, because I know that it is an important move at a very critical stage in his career,” Galaxy president Chris Klein said. “This signing for us is consistent with what we’ve said for a long time now. We want to be the best club not only in our league, but in our region.”
There is the potential impact of Dos Santos’s success in Los Angeles while wearing the Galaxy shirt and what it could mean for the city’s Mexican community, but perhaps the real impact could be for MLS and the fact that Dos Santos, at age 26, is joining the league heading into the prime of his career and if he were to be successful for the Galaxy and in turn translate that success onto the Mexican national team, that scenario could serve as a game changer for MLS.
“Well I’m very proud of being Mexican. It’s going to be great to play here with the Mexican fans here in Los Angeles and I hope I can represent my Mexican fans and my Mexican people very well,” Dos Santo said. “I can’t wait to get on the pitch and play with my team. In football you never know what will happen. Timing is an important part of any move, and for me it was the right moment to come here in the prime of my career and I’m ready to take that challenge.”
Dos Santos arrives in Los Angeles after several up-and-down stints with several European clubs. Signed to FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Dos Santos featured several times for Barcelona before moving to EPL side Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. Dos Santos however could not crack the starting 11 at White Hart Lane and even worse, his commitment to the club came under fire several time by then manager Harry Redknapp and the local media. Loan spells at Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Racing Santander as well as stints with La Liga clubs RCD Mallorca and Villarreal also produced mixed results, all those factors eventually leading up to his move to Los Angeles.
Still, the move for Dos Santos has not come without controversy, as Dos Santos has been criticized be going to a league whose quality is perceived to be at a low level compared to Europe’s top leagues and the Mexico Primera. Chivas Guadalajara owner (and former Chivas USA owner) Jorge Vergara was the most vocal critic of Dos Santos’ move to MLS, but Dos Santos had a message of his own for said critics of his move.
“They should watch more soccer,” Dos Santos said. “I don’t think they know MLS very well. We must remove the label of it being a small league. I honestly have been here two days training with my teammates and they have exquisite quality that any team could have in Europe. The truth is I think that this league in a few years will be one of the most important in the world. For those who criticize me, I just bless them and hope they are happy.”
While Dos Santos’s club career has been up-and-down for the most part, he has been a mainstay on the Mexican national team, emerging as one of the more popular players for El Tri. Dos Santos firmly made a name for himself in the final of the 2011 Gold Cup against the United States at the Rose Bowl, as he held the ball inside the U.S. penalty area and despite actually going backwards from goal, realized that keeper Tim Howard was off his line and therefore, chipped a perfectly weighted ball towards the left corner of the goal and despite the best efforts of U.S. defender Eric Lichaj to clear the ball out, the shot sailed over the leaping Lichaj and into goal to send the pro-Mexican crowd into a frenzy and Mexico to the Gold Cup title and with it a birth in the 2013 Confederations Cup. Dos Santos recently helped Mexico win another Gold Cup title just a few weeks ago, though Dos Santos’ participation in the knockout stage was limited due to a left abductor injury sustained in the group stages of the tournament.
“We ask everyone to please be patient,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “Giovani is coming back from an injury. He’ll take a little bit of time to get in full form, but we think he has a great future here.”
Nevertheless, Arena did give out several clues as to when Dos Santos could make his debut in a Galaxy shirt, which could come this Thursday, as the Galaxy open up CONCACAF Champions League play against Trinidadian club Central FC.
“I want to give a little hint ahead that we think we may see him on the field, we will see him on the field, on Thursday and some capacity as well,” Arena said. “His first MLS game will be on Sunday against the Seattle Sounders.”
