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Disgruntled Mexican players eyeing MLS

By Gabe Martinez

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - DECEMBER 20: Carlos Vela of Real Sociedad reacts during the La Liga match between Real Sociedad de Futbol and Villarreal CF at Estadio Anoeta on December 20, 2015 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - DECEMBER 20: Carlos Vela of Real Sociedad reacts during the La Liga match between Real Sociedad de Futbol and Villarreal CF at Estadio Anoeta on December 20, 2015 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) /
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Two players, two sour situations. Could Carlos Vela and Angel Reyna find new homes in MLS?

The potential is there for MLS to acquire two recognizable names from Mexico. The situations for Vela and Reyna aren’t all that different, both have been highly successful, but have run out of time on their respective teams.

Angel Reyna

ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – MAY 10: Angel Reyna of Chivas looks on during a match between Chivas and Morelia as part of 17th round of Clausura 2015 Liga MX at Omnilife Stadium on May 10, 2015 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/LatinContent/Getty Images)
ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – MAY 10: Angel Reyna of Chivas looks on during a match between Chivas and Morelia as part of 17th round of Clausura 2015 Liga MX at Omnilife Stadium on May 10, 2015 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/LatinContent/Getty Images) /

Angel Reyna’s time with Chivas has come to a crashing end according to a report by ESPN Deportes. It was a breakup that was seen coming from a mile away as Reyna negotiated his release from the club in hopes of finding a new place to play. That place, a spot on an MLS team. The report by Ernaldo Moritz of ESPN reports, Reyna was demoted to the reserves a year ago due to lack of discipline and commitment that was not tolerated by then head coach Jose Manuel de la Torre.

Reyna was an expensive acquisition from Veracruz in 2014, reported to be around $6 million. Thought to be a signing that would bolster Guadalajara’s attack, it has back fired in a big way. Reyna has bounced around Liga MX, having played for 8 teams since the beginning of his career in 2005. He has been successful in scoring, having netted 95 goals with 43 coming in his time with San Luis. Reyna also has 15 caps with the national team, although that opportunity has fizzled.

Although MLS teams have not expressed interest in the 31-year-old midfielder, he has said he wants to land in the MLS. Timing of this decision was not a surprise as Reyna’s contract is up in May and he would have been free to begin his search for a new club there after.

Related Story: Chivas Walking the Relegation Tightrope

Carlos Vela

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 28: Carlos Vela Garrido of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the La Liga match between Real Socided and Elche FC at Estadio Anoeta on November 28, 2014 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 28: Carlos Vela Garrido of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the La Liga match between Real Socided and Elche FC at Estadio Anoeta on November 28, 2014 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /

Carlos Vela’s future was bright, he was considered to be a leading candidate to be the next big thing for the Mexican National Team along with Gio Dos Santos and Hector Moreno. We know how their stories have progressed, but Vela has been an oddity, as he has never truly been able to have the type of career he was destined to have.

Vela’s troubles date back to his time at Arsenal where he was loaned out multiple times to Spain despite some success under Arsene Wenger. Eventually, after much jumping around on those loans, Vela found a home with Real Sociedad in La Liga in 2012. Vela’s track with the Spanish side had been successful having scored 43 times in 128 appearances, until now. On March 9th reports surfaced that he called in sick and was unable to practice, only to be outed by a photo circulating on Twitter of him at a concert that night.

Vela would eventually find himself facing disciplinary action and lose valuable credibility with his teammates. Now Vela’s time with Real Sociedad may be coming to an end as El Universal is reporting Vela has a big desire to head to the MLS. His coach Eusebio Sacristan has indicated Vela’s interest in leaving.

More playing for 90: Is Fernando Torres headed to Liga MX?

The question for Vela is, will this have a happy ending, or will he continue a downward spiral where not even he can dig himself out of?

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