By FRANCO PANIZO
Oguchi Onyewu’s time in Spain may not be done with, after all.
According to a report from Spanish outlet Marca, Valencia have taken an interest in signing Onyewu on a free transfer after he mutually agreed to part ways with Portuguese side Sporting CP in August. Valencia are looking for a replacement for Adil Rami, who just agreed to join AC Milan in January, and have deemed the 31-year-old Onyewu a suitable candidate.
Onyewu is no stranger to La Liga. He spent last season on loan with Malaga but was seldom used by the club. Onyewu made just two league appearances during the 2012-13 campaign, but he did find some success in the Copa Del Rey with four starts and two goals. He also started in two of the three games he appeared in for Malaga in the UEFA Champions League last season.
The veteran centerback has been out of action since playing for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the Gold Cup back in July. To maintain fitness, he has been training with his former team, Ligue 2 club FC Metz.
What do you think of Valencia’s interest in Onyewu? Hoping he signs a deal with the Spanish club? Would you prefer to see him join MLS?
Share your thoughts below.
What is Valencia’s CB situation like? Will he ever play?
remember he has a Belgian passport which comes in handy greatly
Good job joining a Champions League quality team. I’m sure this won’t be disastrous like the last five years of doing just that have been.
He getting paid $$$ Has had 1 of the best careers of any Yank in Europe unlike you
May the flags of the Gooch be unfurled and bells ring across the countryside welcoming the Phoenix like reawakening of the defender of innocence. The Gooch has returned and our lives will never be the same again.
The Dark Knight Rises
This…. this is beautiful.
Good for Gooch, hope it happens. Worst case scenario is he warms the bench at a big club while collecting a paycheck. Best case scenario, he finds his feet again, is able to be a contributor, maybe even works his way back into the NT picture. Either way, not much downside.
Exactly. Short, fragile careers in a tough sport. Earn while you can.
I’d have taken him at DCU. I imagine he takes a year at Valencia, hoping he can slip onto the plane to Brazil. Then he heads back to MLS. DCU have allocation right, Gooch has said he wants to play for DC – makes too much sense.
Never seeing the pitch for Valencia means he’ll be buying his plane ticket to Brazil on Orbitz like the rest of us…
Not to be that guy, but Onyewu has never played in MLS, so he can’t head back to it.
Not as a former mls player but as usmnt
vALENCIA- The Gooch Returns
I’d like to say, “great for Gooxh!” but all I can come up with is “Why?”
+1 my comments too. Maybe he is still better than shown in the US camp.
6’5, 230 lb strong defenders are a rare minority in Spain
An even rarersight is an oversized back who has no ability on the ball and can’t pass seeing any playing time.
First of all, its basically just a rumour.
However, if it happens, you have to assume someone in Valencia thinks the man can still play.well enough to justify the minimal financial risk they would be taking.by signing him.
It also speaks to the current shortage of centerbacks.
Man he has a good agent.
The best comment!
Truly! And I’m a big Onyewu fan.
+1
Another last chance for him in Europe…Hope it isn’t same story…Goes to a team, plays a game or 2 and then disappears down the pecking order…..
I see Gooch as bottom tier MLS material. Sadly, La Liga just isn’t what it used to be. Below the top 2-3 teams, it tapers off wildly, and beyond 7-8, it’s not much better than the mid-tier leagues others have mentioned. The success of the national team and the resultant exodus of players coupled with the tanked economy has taken its toll on the league. The unemployment rate of the targeted demographic hovers around 50%! Even still, I don’t see him getting too much playing time week in, week out.
Stop hating bro. If Oneywu goes to the MLS he needs to be on a good team. Why would you put him on a low level MLS team.
Because he stinks
Fact
No he does not.If he sucked then why are European teams still looking at him. He is just suffering from injuries that is all.
There’s always Chivas USA to turn to.
Bottom tier material. That’s the stupidest comment yet.
And La Liga is still the strongest league in the world. They don’t always attract the best imports, but their academies are stronger then anyone else’s on the planet and La Liga teams will still cream English teams on any given day
What are you smoking? All 7 La Liga teams are still playing in the Europen competitions, the only other league that went 7 for 7 is BPL. Rayo Valecano, which is in the next to last spot in the table, had more possession than Barca, when they played each other. I am not saying that Rayo are world beaters, but you have to have pretty decent technical quality and tactical acmen to win the possession battle against Barcelona. La Liga ships out player every year, although last year we saw a greater number, but they come back strong and young talented players step in – just look at Real Madrid’s or Barcelona’s young crop playing important roles this season. Gooch is considered for depth purposes and as a big strong body to win areal battles in certain games.
Id agree that Gooch is a better La Liga reserve than an MLS starter
awesome, good for Gooch. i hope it works out. was kind of hoping DC United could get him, but i would love to see him playing at Valencia.
lol wut!?
I’m glad to know that he still has some suitors for his services. I will be HAPPIER when he is seeing 90 week in and week out. Maybe it’s his wages but I don’t get why Liege, Anderlect, Olympiacos, Lille, Braga or Galatasaray had not come in for him before this. They are clearly dark horse faves for the 2013 UCL. Picking up a guy with Continental experience, who when on his game is a BEAST in the air, is pretty important for making a deep run in the competition.
Anyway, what do I know?
love to see him in Turkish league or return to the Belgian league. Mid-tier leagues he would dominate
really? how do you know he would dominate. he has played at all this season, and he looked less than impressive in his cameo for the USMNT this summer. crazy how that injury 2009 completely derailed his career
He doesn’t know. He’s giving an opinion. Many people have them.
It appears you gave a valid one too.
way to go GOOCH. He has the best agent out of any Yank Abroad in history
he must have the best agent in all of sports.
This!
Come to PDX Gooch. Just come home.
Technically DC United would be home. IIRC he was born and raised in Maryland.
um, he would still be about 3000 miles away from “home”. they do speak the same language, though, so there’s that.
What does he want to do? Just fill out a good club’s bench, or play? Because he won’t for Valencia.
Does he like teams that might not be able to pay him?
He has high ambition. Plus he’s seen as cheap/replacement for an even better player. He has years of top level experience and he has the Belgian passport
Onyewu must have made a deal with the devil… be on Champions-league level club rosters for years, but play for none of them
Seriously – what’s with these high level teams being the only ones interested? I don’t understand why some mid table La Liga or Ligue 1 or EPL or Serie A or any other gosh darn league he’s played in team won’t sign him.
he’s probably a cheap but good practice levels player or emergency sub for them….who isnt going to cry when he doesnt play.
Gooch is becoming the backup QB for hire….just get the guy a clipboard.
This season Valencia really is a mid-level team. That said, I don’t think he will see the pitch much either with Valencia or MLS because he is too fragile, and will eventually get hurt.
…and he would get hurt even sooner in the EPL.
This guy has been bounced around like Lohan.
Dude, you’re going in the Burn Book.