Philly fans are getting a dose of this drama with Colombian international Carlos Valdés and, to be honest, it´s not getting tiring. The news got into my personal radar when a fellow colleague of mine from Uruguay contacted me in an effort to get ahold of Valdés.
it just seems crazy that this story tends to always resurrect ever six months now and the player holds the emotions of Philadelphia Union fans once again.
My obvious response was to contact his agent, Ricardo Pachón. It raised a flag but didn’t think too much of it at the moment as I was out and about with family. When my colleague told me why, the first reaction was “not again”.
This chapter was read before, mostly because Valdés was in Nacional’s radar but because of his salary they decided to back off. In turn, Nacional decided to sign fellow Colombian defender Efraín Cortés. Cortés’ stint there was short and moved eventually to Mexican side Pachuca and then was loaned out to Puebla.
According to many in the Uruguayan media, the deal was very close to being done. When I got home, I contacted Pachón and in a brief conversation he told me that the information being divulged from Uruguay was “false”. “I had heard about (Nacional) inquiring about the Carlos with MLS, but they never contacted us,” he said.
“Carlos is fine and he has a two year contract with Philadelphia.”
That was the end of the conversation. Or so one would think.
“I had a conversation regarding their interest. Yet there are lots of things to clear up, surely it can occur in the coming days, if not I will stay in the US.”
I guess that was enough to end your search and leave it at that, right? Well remember that in Valdés’ saga with San Lorenzo the player was saying one thing while the agent said another. Remember that Valdés said he was not going to play for San Lorenzo because he hadn’t been paid. Then Pachón went out and spoke to the media and said that Valdés was being paid by MLS. The money was coming late, but it was coming in nonetheless.
Many still remember his infamous Twitter battle with club vicepresident Marcelo Tinelli that caused the player to be removed from the club and eventually headed back to MLS. Yet the news this time seemed very solid, although that means very little when dealing with Valdés and Pachón.
Según @PasionTricolor1: El colombiano Carlos Valdes (zaguero de la selección cafetera de 29 años de edad) llegaria a #Nacional
— BochiSobrino Lodeiro (@andy_sobrino) January 20, 2015
#MERCADO – muy adelantadas las conversaciones entre Carlos Valdés y el Nacional de Montevideo #URU. Podría volver a dejar la #MLS. — Agencia ColombiaGol (@colombiagol) January 20, 2015
The reports that were coming out of Uruguay that Valdés would be a replacement for defender Rafael García who went to Mexican side Morelia. For coach Álvaro Gutiérrez, Valdés would be the ideal central defender he would need in order to play on two fronts in this very hectic first semester of the year.
Copa Libertadores would be an ideal marquee for him once again to have a chance to return to the national team
In Uruguay many are saying that his move is “75 percent complete”. There were others that reported that the club was waiting for MLS to give the ok.
Then came his interview late Monday night on Caracol Radio. His interview on El Alargue would make many Philadelphia fans start to truly doubt if he was committed to the team and could even be possibly heading back to South America.
“I had a conversation regarding their interest,” said Valdés. “Yet there are lots of things to clear up, surely it can occur in the coming days, if not I will stay in the US.”
This caused a great deal of confusion because the player has a contract with the Union until December of 2016. “It’s a great opportunity, also playing in Copa Libertadores grabs my attention,” said Valdés. “Nacional is a team that has been a protagonist in this tournament, it’s a club with great history and tradition.” For him, winning the Copa Libertadores is a great challenge, although he walked away from San Lorenzo days before the first leg of the final against Nacional (PY) last year.
“(Copa Libertadores) continues to be a great challenge,” said Valdés. Despite all that occurred last semester with San Lorenzo, I feel good that about having been part of of the history that they made. You have to close that chapter and look at other opportunities that arise.”
Will Carlos stay? Will he move?
Honestly, have no clue. Yet this third season of “Where Will Carlos Go”, is yet another filled with unnecessary drama for a team that needs some type of normalcy.
What do you think about this move?
