Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
It’s official. Michael Bradley is a member of Toronto FC.
AS Roma announced in a press release on Thursday afternoon that they have completed Bradley’s transfer to Major League Soccer for a fee of $10 million, two times the amount that Roma paid to acquire Bradley from Chievo Verona in 2011. TFC has yet to officially comment on the transfer.
The $10 million fee is a record transfer fee paid for a player moving to MLS. It comes just five months after Clint Dempsey was acquired by the Seattle Sounders for $9 million from Tottenham. Bradley also becomes the second most-expensive American behind Jozy Altidore, who moved to Villarreal in 2008 for $10 million and to Sunderland in 2013 for a reported $13 million.
According to multiple reports in the U.S., Bradley has signed a four-year contract worth somewhere in the region of $6.5 million per season. Bradley could make his TFC debut on March 15 against Dempsey and the Sounders.
ESPNFC’s Taylor Twellman first broke the news on Twitter on Wednesday that Bradley was on the verge of moving to Toronto FC, with multiple reports confirming that Bradley was indeed in discussions about a move back to MLS. The 26-year-old American was originally in Roma’s squad for its Coppa Italia match on Thursday against Sampdoria but was removed ahead of the match.
Following the game, Roma head coach Rudi Garcia confirmed that Bradley was on his way out, and lamented the fact that he was leaving. According to some reports, Roma’s signing of midfielder Radja Nainggolan on loan with an option to buy accelerated Bradley’s attempts to leave Italy for more playing time.
“Bradley wanted to go, we couldn’t keep the player,” Garcia told reporters. “He did very well with me in these months, but I understand he wants to play more.”
——-
What do you think of this news? Still stunned by the transfer? Amazed that TFC paid $10 million to acquire him? Excited to see him face Clint Dempsey in Bradley’s MLS return?
Share your thoughts below.
The Eurosnobbery around hear is suffocating. This is a good move for US Soccer. Look at the big picture. Those of you complaining about MLS being a crap league – well, it just got less crappy. And this trend will continue, bringing more quality players to the domestic league, thereby raising the level of play in MLS, and the quality of players from MLS playing on the national team. It’s a WIN for US Soccer, folks.
What a sad day for the US team.
…. Not!
It is a sad day for all the haters though 🙂
Amen Yevgeniy, It is a sad day for the whiners !
Did MLS use the “Dempsey rule”?
where’s this guy………..Al says:
January 8, 2014 at 4:23 PM
I was waiting for the first journalist to sensationalize one insignificant tweet by a “guy who knows a guy”. Mr. Ives wins the award. Way to get those clicks!….hahahaha!
anyways, i think it’s great MB is going to be playing in MLS. I don’t even live in the states anymore and I’m kinda envy for you guys, but it’s great for the league…. it’s finally stepping up, little by litlle.
I think that whoever did it just won’t admit it…
I complete understand why he would take a deal like this…in January 2015. But six months before a World Cup where he has potential to shine before the glare of the international audience??? No. It really makes no sense. If MLS is willing to paying $6.5MM now then they will be in July as well barring some catastrophe, God forbid. But if he were I excell in Brazil…
And I type like a child.
Perhaps one thing that might be overlooked is the possibility that many, if not all teams in the Serie A may be in some financial difficulty and promise high pay with borrowed funds. Players at the very top will be the first to be paid but players in the mid to lower tier on a team may have some basis of concern. Most of Europe is going through a worse financial crisis than the USA at the moment. Who knows?
I can’t help but think that MB may know more about what goes on internally at some of these clubs but is keeping quiet about it.
How does TFC get off having 4 DPs though? Gilberto, Labas, Bradley, Defoe? Add in DeRo’s salary number to the mix as well. This makes MLS look bush league because you know they’re gonna come up with some new “USMNT/Canadian NT slot that doesn’t count as a DP slot” rule and apply it retroactively to TFC just because of this.
I know right.
DeRo isn’t on a big # – reportedly under $200K and nobody knows what will become of Laba yet. They might be abler to move him off DP and pay with allocation $ or a loan or a trade…time will tell. Never-the-less TFC sure looks a lot stronger for 2014.
as brad said, DeRo is well under DP money ($150,000). Laba is said to be going on loan or sold according to the report that said Defoe and Bradley are signing. but TFC do have some other options to explore in order to get Laba not labeled as a DP. it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.
Just seems too convenient for TFC to have the time to do this. They should be freaking out trying to do something with Laba, not saying “ey we sign Bradley and then worry about this.” Bush league.
how do you know they aren’t? you are calling them “bush league” because of the conjecture you made up in your head?! i doubt TFC is just gonna wing it in regards to Laba. they have probably been working on that detail for awhile. just because it’s not in the papers does not mean things aren’t happening.
Not calling TFC bush league. I’m calling MLS bush league. TFC shouldn’t be able to confirm Bradley before they’ve moved a DP. Either this or Defoe doesn’t sign until one is gone.
TFC didn’t confirm anything dude. MLS hasn’t confirmed anything. the media leaked a story and then Roma released a press statement saying Bradley was sold to MLS.
as stated in the original report, all details will be announced by MLS/TFC, officially, on Monday. there is nothing bush league about that…
Bush league? how so? i’d suggest they’d be ‘bush league’ if they were freaking out trying to do something with Laba rather than deal with it thoughtfully and to their advantage and his.
Uh I should be hearing about Laba being gone before I hear about Bradley being confirmed as a member of TFC though, right? That only makes sense.
says who? TFC haven’t announced anything themselves. from day one, the reports have said all details will come out on Monday. obviously the press is going to focus on Bradley and Defoe but to just assume nothing is being done about Laba makes no sense.
my guess is TFC has already figured out what they are doing with Laba, but we just won’t know until Monday. again, TFC has yet to announce anything. so you can’t say they annoyed Bradley before discussing Laba!
Seriously? Nobody is going to point out to this moron that Defoe hasn’t been signed? That TFC has the proper 3 DPs still? Busch league posting.
we did. i said they haven’t officially signed sh!+. TFC currently has 2 DPs, Gilberto & Laba.
Bradley’s making a step down for more playing time, more money, and possibly other reasons. He could have gone elsewhere at a higher level of competition, but ended up choosing TFC. This is one more USMNT star in the MLS, but is also one less USMNT star on the world stage. Countries with great national teams often have many players in their excellent national leagues, but we have neither.
How this works out for Bradley’s life and abilities is anyone’s guess at this point and it will totally be great to see him play in MLS. That said, this is one less point of pride for U.S. fans. Now our biggest players in Europe are Timmy, some guy who can’t score in the Premier League, some guy who can’t get playing time in the Bundesliga, some guy on loan for a couple of months, some guy in France, some guy in the Netherlands, and some dude that plays right back for Stoke. Look, I love ’em all, but they aren’t playing in the midfield at Roma with dudes like Totti, De Rossi, Strootman, etc. Seeing Bradley in that mix always made me feel proud.
Beautiful!!
You nailed it man. Great stuff.
(Just don’t let the others see it. They will get angry. 😉 )
I think everyone understands, enjoying a player doing well at a club like Roma. However the people who are suggesting that as soon a Bradley walks into a MLS locker room he will just loose any skill he has developed is pretty silly.
yes, that is silly. but it’s equally silly for people to say Bradley will continue to develop at the same rate as he could have in Europe…given he was guaranteed time in a top 4 league.
it’s just one of those things. both sides have a valid point to be made.
Thank you Bryan for pointing that out.
Remember: it’s easy to lose, but it’s hard to gain. Anyone who has been an athlete or works out and keeps in shape knows this.
The reality is that after a month or two in the MLS, his level of play will suffer. Not only on the field but off it. On top of the fact that it’s Toronto. Seriously, why go to one of the worst teams in the league?
Fine then just bench him, who cares, lets move on then
Totally agreed. He’ll be fine. I’m just not sure he’ll be great, you know? I hope his play for TFC makes me look like a hand-wringing idiot.
+1
Always been a big Altidore fan, but to non-Americans that is how he (and the others mentioned) are viewed. Bradley was our main guy we could point to and say, “See, the US can produce great talent that can hack it in the best leagues!” I felt proud about that too. Now that he’s back, we’ve lost our best known face to foreign fans. (excluding our tremendous goalkeeper talent) But I’m def getting tickets to see him vs the Sounders!
On a more MLS-related note: Jeez, they have a tough opening schedule now! SKC, TFC, and at Montreal. Sigi is gonna have his work cut out for him!
I don’t think I’ll care if a fan of another country can’t name any of the US players that just beat his country’s national team. The inferiority complex some of you have is laughable.
Dude, our nemesis the past two World Cups was Ghana. Ghana. For the most part, we are inferior. When we actually accomplish something in the World Cup, we can start talking about a complex.
Truly.
The thing is, you think Italian players on Roma missed that MB90 just signed for $6.5 million? How good do you think that’s going to look to quite a number of them?
You think Jermaine Jones and Jozy Altidore missed that? I don’t.
I think especially after the World Cup, you’re going to see a HUGE number of European players agents calling MLS and seeing what’s on the table.
I don’t think this is an isolated incident. I think Dempsey/MB are the start of a trend of big-money DP’s making their way across the pond. When even teams like Toronto are starting to throw this kind of money around, a whole lot of Big Names are going to be interested in that combo of job security and big cash.
there is no doubt that after the WC there will be some serious moves to MLS. i would guess at least 3 “blockbuster” moves (e.g. Drogba, Sneijder, etc.). then in 2015 we’ll see Kaka and whoever NYCFC brings in, which will likely be big too.
That is a great point.
Something to look out for.
However, not everyone can pay it. I can only think of LAG, SEA, TFC, NYRB. That is because they have rich owners and not because the clubs make a lot of money.
all those clubs make a lot of money, except NYRB who lost $6M last year (we’ll chalk that up to the cost of the new SSS). Portland also made a ton of money. they can pay because they have rich owners and they are making a lot of money (by MLS standards).
Operating Income (aka PROFIT):
Seattle: $18.2M
LA: $7.8M
Portland: $9.4M
NYRB: – $6.3M
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2013/11/20/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams/
$1 mm salary in Europe vs $6.5 in US/Canada. What would you do?
His salary this year is Eur 1.1 POST-TAX so about $1.5 million post-tax. $CAD 6.5 is about $USD 3.5mill post tax
“For Bradley and most top American players, MLS is not the place to be. Forget the league’s quality of play for a second (though it’s far below what level these guys need to be honing their games at); if Bradley signs for TFC, he’s guaranteed a spot in the XI every match – he has to be, because he’s the draw. There’s no fighting for time, no battling for your spot, and complacency will set in, no matter how determined or motivated a player may be. This is a bad thing; it’s the battles in training that push you to improve, to stay sharp, because you’re either challenging the guy ahead of you or fighting off a challenge from the guy behind you. This won’t happen in Toronto for Bradley, and his game (and the USMNT’s) will suffer as a result.”
Too many of you are blinding yourselves. This is about as bad as it could possibly get for the USMNT. It’s great for his pocketbook but not for the team.
If MLS is willing to pay a player in his prime like Bradley ×6 his Salary.. Why not start bringing other players with more star power?..Surely this is feasible if MLS is willing to pay the transfer fee.
Also the cap really needs to be raised. I don’t think we need to be better than the big 4. How about being the best league in CONCACAF? The quality of the average MLS players needs to be raised
This such a 50-50 argument. I understand both sides, and where everyone is coming from. Its a step down for Bradley, that is fact, however for the growth and commercial appeal of MLS, a move like this needed to be made. I applaud Toronto FC for having the balls to make such a move, along with adding Dafoe. I just wish more MLS teams had as much ambition.
As for Bradley, it will be hard to replicate the matches and talent he faced in Italy vs. MLS. He will have to work harder then he ever in order to improve. Now, if MLS were finally able to increase their salary caps, and allow teams to become major players in the international transfer market, then more marque players will come. Of course this is related to the TV contracts, which is tied to the TV ratings.
Thus, I think MLS is starting to realize that in order to attract people to watch matches, they need to shell out big contracts to attract stars (whether American or international).
That is my 2 cents.
The funniest thing is listening to some of these eurosnobs so upset that this might make europeans rate american players less. Who cares? Michael Bradley is just as a good a player today as he was last week.
Yea, but the question remains.. Should he be even playing with the USMNT since his spouse is European? This question is specifically for you slowleftbrain.
MB90 wife is American. Listen, MB90 is not going to loose his skills in the next 5 months. However, I am more worried about 2018. Will be good? Yes. Will be as good and sharp if he stayed in a more competitive league playing with and against better players? No.
At the end of the day, he did what is good for him. If I was him, what would I have done? Probably gone to a mid-level team Serie A, Bundesliga or EPL team pushing for Europa league (if a good year) where he probably belongs as a regular starter. However, it someone comes by to 2.5x’s or 3x’s my salary, I may have come back as well..who knows.
Wow considering how much you love to talk about this topic, you should at least be able to get my position right. Pathetic.
“Who cares?”
Americans trying to get a shot in Europe? American fans that want American players to have the best opportunities possible? People who prefer to watch soccer in the morning? People who think Bradley might not be just as good a player next week as he was last week? People who just want to piss you off?
I can’t wait for Bradley to shut you all up when he plays just as well as ever in the World Cup.
If he does well it’ll be because of his time in Europe and if he does poorly it’ll be because of MLS. They’ve already got it all worked out.
You all are acting like “we” or “they” are rooting for my man to fail. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Of course we want him to flourish in Brazil. However, I’m of the opinion that moving to the 3rd worse MLS team 6 months prior to the WC isn’t an ideal move.
If MLS wants to pay a lot of money for quality players, they should purchase German, Portuguese , or even players from Ghana. It’s not right to increase the quality of play in MLS at the expense of making USMNT player’s form suffer and cease from increasing their form!!!
I remember watching an interview with Carlos Salcido where he talks about how players like him, Maza Rodriguez, Guardado etc… lose money by going abroad. One of them had to buy his contract out of his own pocket from his mexican team before being allowed to leave.
I guess that’s the difference between players that grew up working hard to earn their way into a top team and those players whose parents were rich enough to pay the tens of thousands it takes for American kids to play soccer.
Yes then maybe we could have a National team as good as Mexico…..
So for everyone who thinks the only thing that is important is playing in Europe and Champions league? Do we think about starting Kljestan over Bradley next summer? Does Klinsmann try and send a message he is serious about wanting his players in Europe and takes an all European squad?
This is by far the worst USMNT news in recent history. We’re in BIG trouble come June. Our MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER is doing this. I just refuse to believe it. I’m gutted.
+100000
You said it all. Just don’t tell the rest of the people on here.
For them, MLS is better than Italy and Bradley is only “just one player” on the USMNT.
I love the USMNT, but thank the stars I am Brazilian. I will have at least on team to root for come June.
Terrible decision for the team Mikey. Make that money count for your family.
Our most important player is doing what? Getting himself playing time in a perfectly good league that has already groomed our best player ever? C’mon.
“For Bradley and most top American players, MLS is not the place to be. Forget the league’s quality of play for a second (though it’s far below what level these guys need to be honing their games at); if Bradley signs for TFC, he’s guaranteed a spot in the XI every match – he has to be, because he’s the draw. There’s no fighting for time, no battling for your spot, and complacency will set in, no matter how determined or motivated a player may be. This is a bad thing; it’s the battles in training that push you to improve, to stay sharp, because you’re either challenging the guy ahead of you or fighting off a challenge from the guy behind you. This won’t happen in Toronto for Bradley, and his game (and the USMNT’s) will suffer as a result.”
Again, Landon Donovan.
Again, outlier.
One example isn’t enough.
I could easily type, “Dempsey”. See how that works?
Do you have an example of a player losing all his talent and ruining our World Cup chances because he transferred to the MLS?
You can type Dempsey if you’d like. I’d prefer you type something to convince me.
I guess you’d turn down a 600% salary increase right? You’re that big a hero right?
NOPE. nor did I say or allude to that. For Mike personally – it’s a GREAT move. Professionally and for the USMNT, it’s not a good move no matter how you slice it. MLS is a lower level of competition. He won’t be challenged. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of MLS (how could be a soccer fan in American and not be?) but, to sit here and write that MLS is better situation than Italy, England, Spain and Germany – you’re playin’ yourself.
Yea – he’ll be getting full 90s, but could he not find a mid-level team in a top league and do the same???? Help me understand.
They can’t help you because they are clueless.
I usually don’t like to get into personally but so many of the posters on here are clueless with regards to soccer.
MLS is garbage. It’s A LONG WAY for being a quality league. I love my Timbers and there are a few great teams and players but this idea that MB90’s move is anything but awful for is career as an athlete (money aside please, that is a DIFFERENT argument), are fooling themselves.
He was playing in a top 4 league one a top 4 team with truly world-class players. Now he is at Toronto. Enough said.
Get real people!
This is about as bad as it could get for the USMNT. I hope that money is used well.
you get real! Posting as if you know soccer…just barking like a small child actually who just had his parents tell him No
You vastly overstate how bad MLS. Of course it’s nowhere near Serie A but it doesn’t matter how great Serie A is if MB is on the bench or coming on for 10 minutes at the end of games. Maybe he could have moved to a smaller team in Europe but expecting him to give up millions to do so is childish. Either way, it’s not going to impact his play in Brazil one bit. Maybe long term it may affect his development but between now and June? Please.
Soccer god of america, please let this be dream, if not just send tim howard to red bull.
Anyone think altidore to skc next??? Could use a striker…lol
Altidore would fit in at SKC. Attack with a high line the whole game. Better than playing with Sunderland.
Getting service from Zusi, I like it
As an SKC fan, I’d love to have him.
That would be pretty cool to see
I want Altidore to stay in Europe, but he needs a midfield. I also think that he also likes it in Europe a lot (like Timmy and Friedel).
Ives: Tell me you’re working the phones for a MB90 interview. Git ‘er done!
+1
It’s lie Bradley and Dempsey just gave a giant middle finger to JK
Honestly, the more I think about it, I’m okay with this move.
It will be hard for Bradley to leave MLS ever again unless he’s looking for a pay cut, but that doesn’t matter.
It’s ridiculous to think his form is going to fall between now and June when he’ll be midseason and have played multiple friendlies for the USMNT. If he loses form by the 2015 Gold Cup or 2016 Copa America, there will be more people coming down the pipeline to replace him.
Now I hope JJ can find a place in MLS and we can get them both in camp right away.
He’d fit in with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Yes. Yes he would.
That actually sounds about right. Fits there style and are near LA where he wants to be.
Not really near LA, unless 4-5 hours is close enough. The best in between option is Fresno… I think he’d prefer living near SJ or SF, if he came to the Quakes at all.
LA is 6 hours from San Jose without traffic. Rough commute.
Few thoughts:
1. MLS better raise the salary cap and making a insanely expensive purchase like this better ensure other quality players on the way.
2. How much of a difference does it make that he’s going to a Canadian team over an American team?
3. Hope we can see some quality loans in his future to continue his growth/resume.
4. Donovan has done just one for himself in MLS
5. I want to hear Klinnsmans opinion on all of this
Wait until the CBA at the end of the year. They could raise the cap to at least 5 million.
Number 5 is the big piece of the puzzle that is yet to be solved.
My guess: JK is upset. I doubt MB90 will lose his spot (I mean, who else is going to fill it?) but he most definitely can’t be liking this move.
Dempsey to Sounders
Bradley to Toronto FC
Donovan stays in Galaxy
This is going to be the worst World Cup in American history it’s going all down hill from here.
Regardless of where these players are plying their trade this is one of the most talented teams we’ve ever fielded.
Plus I’m not sure we can do worse than France 98 or that small stretch from ’54 to ’86 where we didn’t even qualify.
Why do USMNT fans keep regurgitating this “most talented team ever” nonsense all the time.?
This team is no better than 2002 and is on par with 2010. Hell, on paper, 2006 was that “greatest team ever” and we remember how that went.
In 2002, 11 of the players were from MLS.
Overreact much?
there is a 9 hour time difference between Rome and Sao Paulo (USMNT home base), the difference between Toronto and Sao Paulo – 3 hours.
USMNT for the WIN!
I Like This Move!
He will get a break of about 5 weeks. He will go hard for 8 weeks. Training camp for 3 or 4 weeks …
WHILE the Roma guys who are also INTL’s will be grinding each week followed by a 3 or 4 week training camp then the WC14.
I Wish we could get the whole USMNT here for the Break, MLS season then camp.
I’m saying that USMNT players will be fresher and have a deeper well to draw from when the real test comes. SO …
USMNT for the WIN!
And the Union are getting a mascot… I picked the wrong team
Right?
A mascot. Hopefully the draft works out because Nick Sac isn’t dropping money on a DP. Adu was the one and he made everyone look like a fool.
3x salary? idiot if he didn’t do it. truly. stop stressing. MLS will be a top 5 league in 3 years if we can get the TV ratings up.
If we can get the ratings up (BIG IF), we are 4 in the Americas Liga Mx, Brasilero, Argentino. However, it’s pretty naive (to put it kindly) to think we’d be top 5 in the world in 5 years. The other leagues have history (100 years of it), quality of life, celebrity and well paid. Keep in mind that Brazil is starting to pay their players a lot nowadays.
Top 10 in 10 years is still an aggressive but somewhat realistic if everything goes exactly to plan.
It’s nice that Bradley gets a big payday but he is not the kind of people that fans will come out to see. For him, its good… for MLS …. bad investment
kind of player….I wish we could edit posts
Fans will come to see a winning team, however. Bradley and Defoe could very well make TFC a competitive team, and quickly.
I’ll be watching Toronto games to see MB, without question.
+1
I guarantee you the fans will be returning to the stadium in Toronto again.
Two questions:
1. After the Dempsey deal, who paid this transfer fee? Shouldn’t it be MLS….or did they make-up a new rule?
2. Is he with TFC because TFC declined to bid for Dempsey to help MLS sell a USMNT player to the US public?
at first news make me feel a little concerned with his development since he is yet to peak, but just reading that his first match will be against another great national team player it almost gave me that feeling that MLS has almost made it. Now, i feel like this is just the start to maybe having young prospect from around the globe that need playing time before the world cup to showcase their talents that MLS is definitely a viable and smart option.
I just read this on bleacherreport.com…pretty much says it all
“In the end I don’t care how MLS or US soccer sell it. Europe is the highest level and if you leave there you are failing in my eyes. 6 months before the world cup I don’t see Robben, Sneijder, Huntelaar and Van Persie retreat back to the Dutch league for their careers…”
Myopic drivel. The aforementioned aren’t losing playing time at their current clubs. And what the hell? Sneijder went to Turkey. That isn’t exactly the best of the best right there.
Sneijder plays CL ball. Not bad at all.
Sneijder plays CL ball with his club. Not bad at all. Better than the MLS.
So does Kljestan, should we start him over Bradley next summer?
Exactly. Its about the player not the league.
The rest of the league stinks though so the ONLY meaningful games he plays are cl game
If Ajax could play RVP 6 times what he is making at ManU then I bet he would go in a heart beat.
Yeah and he could win the title just about every year too. Only competition is PSV and Feyenoord.
It’s getting REALLY annoying that people are throwing around 6 times. When it’s really 2/2.5 times (still a big jump). I mean, people, ACTUALLY digest the information and take into account his post- tax Euro earnings (which is what the Eur 1.1 mill at Roma was and that is between USD1.45 – 1.65 mill). His 6.5 million is pre-tax. His Canadian taxes will be roughly 42%, so his post tax $3.77 million/yr (if the number is USD quoted) or more like $3.47 mill/yr (if the salary was quoted CAD).
quoting bleacherreport as if it means something g! that is funny
Clint Dempsey’s Seattle Sounders take on Michael Bradley’s Toronto FC on opening day. Welcome to motherf_ckin’ bizarroworld, also known as MLS 3.0?
Real crazy that two guys that already played in MLS are playing against each other in MLS wow so crazy!
come on, you know what he means.
Ten millions is a lot of money for a player who mostly makes sideways and backwards passes.
When is Jozy arriving?
Gotta believe that Jozy’s (and maybe Tim Howard’s) agent has been in contact with MLS. With this kind of dough being thrown around, they would be crazy to not at least make a call or two.
Do we really care if Jozy comes? There are plenty of non-scoring forwards in MLS now
True, but the way he plays with his back to the goal is just breathtaking.
Jozy would fit in with the San Jose Earthquakes. Or he could wait until NYC and Orlando.
ikr
Seriously, WTF?
IF you have to go the MLS, why not a decent team?
This has to be 90 percent about money.
I can’t get my head around this at all.
No, I think you got your head around it just fine. It’s about money. Imagine being offered a 600% raise. Sure, you’d had to live in Canada, but wouldn’t you do it?
That is what I was thinking.
It’s about family, stability and $$$.
This is a disaster for the USMNT however. Forget the World Cup because the team leans on him for everything in the midfield. Without him, the team cannot do sh$t.
Right, because he’s gonna completely lose all his talent in the next few months?
Have you ever been an athlete or worked out? If you lay off, drop your level, it hits you pretty quickly.
The World Cup is six months away. Playing ugly MLS soccer is only going to hurt his playing.
You haven unrealistically negative opinion of MLS.
Outside of my Timbers, who are only up and coming, the league is garage. I was looking forward to the final. I regret that time I spent. Utter trash.
When you really love something you tend to see more than what is really there. Perhaps that is what is going on with most of you guys. Whatever it is, you can’t make me say 2+2=5 when it’s clearly 2+2=4.
“garbage
Why isn’t there an edit option?
the fact you say only the Timbers are good reveals you don’t know sh!t about MLS. there’s some lousy clubs and also good ones, not just one
Aaaaahhh… Timbers fan.
I think a lot of the controversy about whether this is good for MB’s career have to do with differing definitions of career success. Is a successful career one that is lucrative and stable? or is it one that achieved the most and pushed the envelop of what’s possible? I’d rather have the latter if I had the talent/skill for it. I’m an engineer, and I’d rather work on useful products in cutting edge technologies than be an extremely well paid draft monkey at a CAD firm for ten times the salary. In 10 years, if you were MB, would you rather have $50 million and an MLS cup, or 15 Million and a Scudetto? The answer to that question pretty much sums up whether or not you think it was a smart move.
Doesn’t surprise me. Keep your thinking to a minimum
This is so great for American soccer. So great. Americans pushing themselves in one the most competitive and prestigious leagues out there, yeah! Glad to see he didn’t get baited into any number of teams in Europe that that wanted him where we could of played at a so called “higher level”.
MLS, YEAH!! ALRIGHT, USA!
Hey bro, frank dux had to go AWOL to become the greatest fighter in the world, that seemed to work for him.
Go mls! Go kumite!
OK USA
This is a great buy for MLS. For those saying that this is dumb for Bradley, I disagree. He’s doing something great for him & his family. He will be a centerpiece If we want the best league possible, we need the best players possible. As a USMNT fan, the benefit of more playing time will outweigh the pull of playing against better competition in Europe.
So let’s bring Jozy too. And Tim Howard, Fabian Johnson, Alejandro Bedoya, Timothy Chandler, John Brooks. So much they can learn in MLS. Let’s just do it. Bring them all back, make them all DPs for 10, 20 million dollar transfers.
haha i think you missed the point because youre clouded with anger/disgust but everyone except for jozy and brooks are either starts or get more than 45 minutes. Jozy and Brooks can benefit from that riding the pine at top level club wont make them better, at least with move to MLS they have a chance to play weekly against modest opposition and psychologically that will help them going to the world cup.
I’m sure you’re being bitter and sarcastic but I would be delighted if NYCFC’s first major signing was Jozy Altidore.
OK Mikey- now you just have to lead your team to an MLS championship and bring them success in Concacaf CL. If you don’t do that in the next couple of years, then many of your biggest fans will be disappointed in your progress. And if you do that, then many will still be disappointed that you reached your MLS ceiling while still in your prime and they’ll wonder what you might have done in Europe. On a separate note: Congrats on the big raise!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Of all the franchises why the Canadian one?
no joke. I think he’d be much more useful as a marketing tool for both the league and his team if he went to a US based team rather than a Canadian one. But what do I know…
wow. Surprised but nothing like upping you salary by 6.5 x the amount you used to make.
Not really. His roma contact was after tax, his mls contract is before tax, which narrows the gap somewhat. And if I’m not mistaken his is typical in European contracts of salaries increasing every year for their duration.
narrows! cmon! maybe alters from the dan ryan expressway to 5 lane…but that is narrow only technically!
We could have most of our players in our domestic league, like Spain. This could be a good thing for the national team.
Spain had most of their players in their domestic league. Not so anymore.
Also, Spain had most of it’s players on TWO teams. That is a big difference between the USMNT and the Spanish National Team.
What are you talking about? The vast majority of Spain’s NT players play in La Liga. The same can be said for most top European teams.
Many Spanish players play in England outside of the Barcelona players.
I would try to list them but I know I would screw up spelling their respective names.
Many of the Spanish players play in La Liga. Majority come from Barca, Madrid, then Atletico de Madrid.
Played. Played.
Many of their players play in England outside of the Barcelona crew.
8 do, the rest still play in La Liga.
*13
i’m not sure why i typed 8. it should be noted that is 13 out of about 35. so 1/3.
Only for a few teams. If you look at the UEFA top 10 a majority of the players on Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, and France do not play in their domestic leagues.
not true. we need to work on your Google skills!
check out the Spanish National Football Team’s wiki website. go to the roster section and count. you’ll see about 2/3 play in La Liga. the only ones who don’t are:
Reina, Albiol, Monreal, Mata, Cazorla, Navas, Negredo, de Gea, Azpilicueta, Silva, Martinez, Alcantara, and Soldado.
Like I said; outside of the Barcelona crew, many of their players play in England. You listed 13 players. That is a lot of players.
Try reading what I write, alright?
dude, don’t pull attitude on me. you said:
“Spain had most of their players in their domestic league. Not so anymore.”
that is wrong. here are the players who DO play in La Liga and for Spain:
Real Madrid: Casillas, Ramos, Arbeloa, Alonso, Isco (5)
Barca: Valdes, Bartra, Iniesta, Busquets, Pedro, Pique, Alba, Puyol, Cesc, Xavi, Tello (11)
Atl. Madrid: Juanfran, Koke, Villa, Suarez, Costa (5)
Real Sociedad: Martinez (1)
Sevilla: Moreno (1)
that’s 23 players, who have been called up within the last 12 months, who play in La Liga. another 13 play outside La Liga. 23 out of 36 IS most of their players which is what you originally said is not true. you also said outside of Barca the rest play elsewhere. in fact, 11 play for Barca and 12 play for other La Liga teams.
“Many Spanish players play in England outside of the Barcelona players.”
That is what I wrote.
Chill out man.
aren’t you the one alwqays telling people to stop telling you to chill out? let me borrow your line, “i’m chill.”
i copied and pasted what you wrote and what i responded to:
“Spain had most of their players in their domestic league. Not so anymore.”
that was wrong.
“Many Spanish players play in England outside of the Barcelona players.”
this implies that the large majority of La Liga players play for Barca. that would be wrong. if you did not mean to imply that, fine.
i wasn’t rejecting the idea that a lot of Spanish players play in England. i was rejecting that most of their team plays outside of La Liga. 2/3 of their team plays in La Liga.
really wish we had an edit button…:
“this implies that the large majority of La Liga players play for Barca. that would be correct. if you did not mean to imply that, fine.”
i then meant to add onto that:
but it makes it seem you only think Barca players are on the team from La Liga. when, in fact, 12 La Liga players play for teams outside Barca.
And half of those guys were playing in La Liga a season or 2 ago
exactly
difference is that La Liga is the second best in the world while the MLS is barely top 20
Ok, name 19 leagues better than MLS.
EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue A, Primeira Liga, Eredivisie, Russian Premier League, Ukrainian Premier League, Süper Lig, Superleague Greece, Belgian Pro League, the (English) Championship, Primera Division Arg, Brazilian Serie A, Liga MX, Primera Division Chile, Primera Division Uruguay, Liga Adelante (Spain)
Superleague Greece …hahahaha
Ukrainian premier league ?
Russian premier league?
You are grasping at straws dude…
Most people believe that the top 3 teams in Superleague Greece (Olympiakos, PAOK and Panathinaikos) would consistently win against the MLS top 3 (Sporting KC, LA, RSL?)
As far as the Ukrainian Premier, I’ve heard Penarol is pretty good, apparently Defensor Sporting is none too shabby, either.
The Russian Premier League might have reached its zenith a couple of years ago, but there’s still plenty of rubles flooding into clubs like Zenit St. Petersburg, CSKA Moscow and Anzhi Makhachkala.
Penarol and Defensor do not play in Ukraine. I dunno if that is a type or not. For your sake i hope so.
You’re delusional if you think mls is better than any of those leagues, I might even put la liga 2 or bundesliga 2 there
It beats being delusional full stop
You can take six of those off there. Top to bottom the Belgian, Uruguayan, Chilean, Liga Adelante, Ukranian, and Greek leagues are not better.
They have a good team or two, but MAL is in par with about mid-table of the championship.
*MLS
Here is a short list of the leagues better than MLS: (in no particular order) Spain’s La Liga, Barclays English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, France’s Ligue 1, Brasileirão, Argentina’s Primera Division, Dutch Eredivisie, Portugal’s Liga ZON Sagres, Russian Premier League, Mexico’s Liga MX, Turkish Süper Lig, Ukranian Premier League, Czech Republic’s Gambrinus Liga, Belgian Pro League, Colombia’s Categoria Primera A, Uruguayan Primera Division, Superleague Greece, Romania’s Liga I, and Peruvian Primera Division
Gambrinus Liga?! You also forgot to add Lichtenstein Super Liga
How the fudge do TFC have that kinda spending dough? Are they still going after Defoe? Or was this their second choice? Baffling.
Still want MLS franchises to spend as much as they make.
TFC is owned by MLSE. They own the Leafs and Raptors, as well. The corporation is co-owned by Canada’s two largest telecom companies, Rogers (who owns the Jays) and Bell. Money is no object for MLSE.
Which is why I wish MLS would allow its franchises to spend all of the money they make. MLS thinks that this will destroy parity however.
I don’t know much money TFC makes. The company that owns them makes money from their other businesses (Telecom, Maple Leafs, Raptors). I think that we hould have a higher salary cap (perhaps 5million a year with exceptions built in for 2/3 DPs).
It will destroy parity. That’s part of the lesson from the original NASL.
Take DC United for instance. B/c they’re in a revenue-losing stadium, they’re at the point where they do minimal overseas scouting, they cut ticket staff, they combine front-office jobs and they look for budget DPs. If you have a team spending $30 million in transfer fees and salaries (which is what I heard was the approximate figure for transfer and salary amounts for Bradley, DeFoe, Gilberto acquisitions this year) versus another team that is trying to get by without any DPs (or at least not spending more than $400k for EJ).
I think what exists in Spain is terrible. What used to exist in the Premiership was bad (and this year the exception). I like a league where you don’t have 2-3 rich teams dominating.
because MLSE is worth $2 billion. that’s how. and yes, they will be signing Defoe as well. reports indicating $100 million for both players including their transfer fees and their salaries for the length of their contracts.
I am sick to my stomach.
This is a HUGE step back for US players, US Soccer and world-wide respect for Americans trying to play this game.
At least he will have the money to bank his family.
There goes the World Cup. At least I can root for Brazil.
“There goes the World Cup.” What?
MB90 is the USMNT midfield.
He is the engine of the team. That is the reality. You may not like that reality, which is fine, but without him playing the best of the best, our engine will not be performing as well as it should or could be.
It’s not hyperbole. Forget the World Cup.
Even with MB90 starting and playing 90 minutes for the rest of Roma’s games this season we would still have long odds to get out of the group. This really doesn’t make a huge difference for the USMNT.
Now you could say its going to stunt the astronomical growth he would have had between 2014 and 2018 which hurts us next cycle but for this WC I really don’t think it makes a much difference.
Hell with so many players coming up the pipeline I doubt it makes much difference for 2018 the more I think about it.
It is hyperbole, because it assumes we were going to win in it all the first place…
I didn’t assume we were going to win it.
That, most likely, will never happen.
You’re six solid feet of wet with a blanket floating on top
The World Cup is 5 months away, it’s too close to effect his play one way or anouther any way.
then why all the hub bub for Clint playing less than 2 months for Fulham?
Pretty different situations. Clint never really got healthy and fit after transferring to Seattle. Thus a short term loan to a team like Fulham was an excellent opportunity to get healthy and get some games prior to the MLS season and the World Cup.
not at all. both are about time and place and their effect on a player’s skills.
So playing 90 minutes every game vs lesser competition, compared to seriously reduced playing time against higher competition,will be the deciding factor in our success at the WC? Good to know that we are just a fraction of a players ability from being a dominant force in international competition.
But MB is not playing “the best of the best.” He’s not even playing. He’s sitting. That’s the worst scenario possible for WC prep. It’s not like he’s a 17 year newbie who will learn a lot from watching the game on the bench. In a WC year, he needs to have match fitness and game sharpness and he loses both by sitting at Roma.
Now, if you don’t care about the US WC performance, than MB should have just pulled a Kirovski and stayed at Roma (good money, decent security, nice food, good weather).
except Bradley wasn’t going to stay at Roma. he had offers from teams he would start on in the Budnesliga, Serie A, and EPL. Sunderland, for example, is one of those teams.
the difference was the $6.5M a year. no European team who was interested in him was willing to pay that salary.
So in 5 months he is going to regress into a shell of what he used to be? That’s a stretch considering he wasn’t getting any playing time…
anyone who is saying he will regress is being insane. he will still develop in MLS. but given he had chances to start at other teams in Serie A, the Bundesliga, and EPL, it’s hard to argue his development wouldn’t have been even better in Europe outside of Roma.
Europe, at least in THOSE leagues, are still the best place to develop and Bradley was going to be able to start.
Sorry Ma, forgot to take out the trash…
Replacement’s allusion. Very nice.
Yes, before the move we were shoe-ins for World Cup glory. Can’t believe he traded more playing time/money over a spot on Roma’s bench. Not to mention the loss of world-wide respect.
The idea that some how Bradley playing in MLS for 12 matches vs getting 15 mins for Roma is going to effect the World Cup in any way is the most ridiculus thing Ive seen on here.
you can’t possibly believe that is why people are upset. we know for a fact that he turned down multiple offers in the Bundesliga and Italy. and apparently an EPL team or two. teams that he would likely have no problems starting for unlike at Roma who have incredible midfield depth.
Remember when Sunderland wanted him for 10 million?
That is a hell of a lot of money and he could have been playing in a decent league with our top striker.
This makes sense only financially.
it’s amazing, i laughed when i heard Sunderland bid for him saying “no Fing way.” now i wish it happened…
either way, i’m over the shock (i think). it’s not all doom and gloom.
So did I. Now I wish it had happened.
I am not over this shock at all. It’s just soccer but still can’t believe it.
you are a humungous tool. you have no idea what is best for michael bradley. he is a gamer and i guarantee you he will lead the us strongly in Brazil.
Get over it, true. True.
Yeah – moving to Sunderland has been great for Jozy! He goes from playing 90 every week, being one of the top scorers in a league to spotty playing time and a handful of goals. At least he gets to learn from studs like Wes Brown and Lee Cattermole.
Beckham gets lauded for coming to MLS and wanting to change soccer in America. Deuce and Bradley come back and no one talks about bringing Americans to an American league to help shape the league’s future.
Actually, it’s not ridiculous. Playing 90 minutes in 12 matches is going to result in an MB with significantly more match fitness and game sharpness than an MB riding the bench with Roma. Going to TFC is (short-term) the best WC prep MB could do. AND….if he has a good WC than he attracts suitors from major Euro clubs who’d see him as a WC star (rather than a guy who couldn’t start for a mid-table team).
Okay, one guys performance isn’t going to cost us games…unless its Bornstein.
Hahahahahahahahaha
“world-wide respect for Americans trying to play this game”
Oh my all our hopes, pinned on the life of one player, oh my…your poet was wrong, this is how the world ends.
Oh, Eliot reference. Nicer.
I have no respect for anyone who thinks Bradley coming to MLS means the USMNT will be affected.
Do you know who Landon Donovan is by any chance?
Take your hyperbole out to the trash can where it belongs.
Peace be with you lost soul.
If your respect for others is dependent on soccer players, you have bigger problems than this move by MB90.
I notice you didn’t actually address my comments about Bradley and Donovan…perhaps because you know you’re just trolling.
Donovan is the exception not the rule
Donovan’s the exception how? The point being made is his international form hasn’t dropped while continuing his career in MLS.
I don’t see how that lends itself for an exception ruling. Bradley is younger, Bradley is better, Bradley is more important. It’s too easy of a cheap way out to just claim such a thing with no basis for doing so. You’re just grabbing at air. Completely baseless.
um because he is the ONLY one. he is a statistical outlier. or, as Oliver wrote, the exception, not the rule.
to be able to play at a very high international level (e.g., the World Cup) yet stay in MLS. literally there is no one else who can say they got to LD’s heights while being in MLS.
as such, if you were a statistician, you would create a graph and LD’s pinpoint would be way outside the average…showing a high standard deviation.
LOL You’re a regular Rock of Gibraltar as a supporter aren’tya there.
USA all the way… until you punk out at…. what???
He is the Timmy chandler of fan commitment.
Nothing wrong with an early retirement.
Money is certainly figuring into his decision making… But I wonder how much of this decision has to do with family as well. Comments?
Well considering he was only making 1 million dollars a year and his salary just increased 550%, I think we know what really influenced this move.
Which is advantageous to his family as well.
Maybe I missed it, but the article says this is a transfer. I haven’t seen his new salary reported anywhere yet. Additionally, my understanding for transfers is typically the player only gets 10% of the transfer fee. Then uncle sam gets his cut.
No. It’s more like 2x’s-2.5x’s his salary (still a significant huge jump). Sorry, it’ my pet peeve because people are throwing around numbers with ACTUALLY seeing what it really means.
Last year he made Eur 800k. This year his salary went up to to Eur 1.1-1.2million. However, all those numbers are post-tax. Given the 1.33-1.37 Eur-USD conversion rate range, that is about $1.46 – $1.65million after taxes.
He is making (supposedly) $6.5mill/year pre tax. His Canadian taxes will be roughly 42% because he will be in the highest bracket (above 137K for federal and 500K for province). His post tax income should be $3.77 million/yr. This is assuming it’s USD and not CAD (Toronto is in Canada). If it’s CAD, then it’s more like $3.47 mill/yr (1 CAD = 0.92 USD).
Thanks for the work on the analysis. Can Dan/Ives place this as an appendix to the article?
MLS salaries are traditionally listed in USD. Oh, and his 1.2 may have been post-tax in Italy, but probably not in us, so take another 300 grand.
what?!
what does the new Toronto FC player’s post-tax salary in Italy have to do with US taxes?
Oh, and just to be annoying, his $1.09m was in dollars (per Grant Wahl) not Euros. So it’s about four times, assuming Roma was paying his US tax bill as well.
If he paid Italian taxes (43% on 75k eur and over), then he’d have received a credit on his US taxes (39.6% on over $400k for S or MFJ ) that would have probably cancelled out most or all of the US taxes that would have been due.
still blows my mind. but time to move on. get him to LA immediately for the January camp.
That’s an interesting point, I wonder if he’ll join them now that his schedule is presumably freed up.
No. Let him rest: a fresh team is needed for the heat and travel of Brazil.
let him rest?! from what? he played two games back to back but hasn’t seen the field since. i know he has at least been training, but we need him playing.
he can continue to “rest” through his unveiling on Monday but then should head to LA. even if he does not go to Brazil, he can stay in LA with the other 3 who won’t be. then he’ll be there for the South Korea game.
point is, he should be on the field against SK.
This move was a no-brainer for Bradley, what an excellent career move.
You mean excellent financial move. Poor direction in terms of his career. One cannot realize their full potential without challenging themselves against the very best day-in and day-out.
True
“At the end of the night you walk into the locker room and to be able experience the feeling you have with your teammates, your coaches, with the trainers, that’s why you play,” the midfielder said. “To do something special like that, where everything is against you, everybody wants to say how bad you are, everybody wants to write you off, to leave all that bull shit outside the locker room and just be committed to the team, to leave everything on the field, to run for each other, to fight for each other, that’s what we did.” “We played with 11 guys for 90 minutes,” Michael Bradley said.
“All the fucking experts in America, everybody who thinks they know about soccer, they can all look at the score tonight and let’s see what they have to say now. Nobody has any respect for what we do, for what goes on on the inside, so let them all talk now.”
Damn
Oh, the bs word!
“At the end of the night you walk into the locker room and to be able experience the feeling you have with your teammates, your coaches, with the trainers, that’s why you play,” the midfielder said. “To do something special like that, where everything is against you, everybody wants to say how bad you are, everybody wants to write you off, to leave all that bull ….. outside the locker room and just be committed to the team, to leave everything on the field, to run for each other, to fight for each other, that’s what we did.” “We played with 11 guys for 90 minutes,” Michael Bradley said.
“All the ….. experts in America, everybody who thinks they know about soccer, they can all look at the score tonight and let’s see what they have to say now. Nobody has any respect for what we do, for what goes on on the inside, so let them all talk now.”
Talk Now!
This is weirder than 70-80% of your posts
It kept getting deleted because of bad words, then they let them all go.
Basically, Mikey Bradley sez haterz to da left.
Stop judging. If someone offered to (at minimum) quadruple your take home pay, and guarantee it for the next 5.5 years, you’d take the deal. I would, too.
Keep in mind MB4 has a young and growing family, and his career field’s earning power will only decrease from here on out, and this is a very sensible and adult decision.
Grant Wahl reports MB4 gets about 1.1mil (US; net) at Roma, for the next 1.5 years. TFC is offering around 6mil+ (US; gross) for the next 5.5 years. Do the math. Even after (slightly higher) Can. taxes, that will come to around 20mil+ take home pay until he is 31 or 32.
I’ll not judge an athlete for securing his family and financial future. Take the deal, MB4.
Now, TFC is overpaying, but that’s hardly Michael Bradley’s problem…
i’ll judge anyone who chooses money over their passion any day, thank you. that is why america is crawling with aholes.
Pretty sure Mr. Bradley is not giving up soccer, so, you know, his passion is still there. It is not an either/or logical fallacy like you posit.
Then again, maybe logical fallacies are why America is crawling with naive, sanctimonious, holier-than-thou judgmental moralists that think they know what is best for other people’s lives.
…it’s a huge step down to a league that can’t garner more fans than the lowly WNBA because of their overall poor play in comparison to top European leagues. Even Liga MX has more US viewers than MLS.
Not to mention Liga MX gets more views even on ESPN.
It seems like you are the only voice of reason on this site at the moment.
MLS is a terrible league. Toronto is an even worse team. At least he could have got to Portland.
If you want to be the best, in any area of life, you have to be with the best. This will hurt his playing. That will hurt the USMNT. Not to mention what JK is going to think about this.
MLS will be better in the future. Unfortunately everyone else’s league is 80+ years old. More tradition and experience with the game.
Way too negative, Chill.
The WNBA thing was about television ratings, not FANS. Get the hell out of here with that garbage.
WNBA about to fold.
MLS does not need MB to come back. MLS needs USMNT to do well in Brazil. This move helps if MB gets playing time that he would not get in Roma. But, there are not better options of clubs wanting his talent vs better competition???
I watch MLS and USMNT games, and not much else due to family responsobilities. On Boxing day, I watched about 20 minutes of the man City vs Liverpool game. It was mid way through the second half, City up 2-1, and it was some of the worst soccer I have seen for a while. Man City did not attack, and did not defend. Liverpool tried to gift City goals, but they would not take them, and Liverpool missed multiple point blank opportunities (On one, their one player got called for offsides while blocking his own team’s shot). It was so poor I was laughing. The Premier League (And the rest of the Euro leagues) might be better than than MLS, but it is not miles better than MLS.
dude. sample size.
Oh I am so sorry usaalltheway.
I am glad you have this format to whine in. Eat some Ben and Jerry’s and call your girlfriends, you will be fine.
1. The league does have more fans than WNBA
2. Liga MX also has a multiple of rating vs. EPL
3. People like you are the reason why the rating are more poor than they need to be
So, please explain to us how MLS is supposed to become a premier destination for players other than retirees, has-beens and never will bes? Could it be…by attracting the best domestic players that can provide leadership to younger players and by showcasing the class and quality that you (hopefully) believe your USMNT players have?
Listen, I went to those early MLS games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. That MLS and today’s MLS are miles apart. I love watching the EPL week in and week out; however, I believe MLS is at a crossroads right now, and they are making the best of this opportunity to be more than a cut rate league that no one cares about. They have the chance to make this into something more.
Where are you getting those stats? Because MLS has higher average attendance than every professional sports league in the country aside from the NFL and MLB. Yeah, that means higher attendance than the NBA. Notice the lack of a ‘W’. Television ratings might be a problem, but that’s mostly down to network availability, which doesn’t compare to other sports.
What do you mean by “career”? He’s not winning a world cup, not going to get on a team much better than the current Roma setup, and he is not likely to make more $ than what TFC have signed him for. I was a little saddened at first too, but this seems like a good career move to me after all. I think most of you guys are still confusing your vicarious aspirations with his “career.”
I like Quaker Oats.
Sorry, can’t say the same about most humans…
+1000000
thats an assumption to what he is cable of. lets just say for a second that he goes to the world cup and has some of his finest performances during our time there and his stock just rises and a big name team comes calling for his services, then what? would it still a bad move for himself?
Then some big club pays his transfer and he moves on.
he had an incredible world cup in ’10 and it didn’t do squat for him. who cares about these hypothetical questions regarding his “ceiling.” too many people here can’t just let a brotha live.
he has a situation where he will be set financially for his and his families future and get playing time. Everyone here would do the same! We all know the competition in MLS will be less but how else is the league too grow. Everyone talks about the league growing but don’t want to improve it with better players coming back, this makes no sense. And besides, he owes no one on this forum or in this country sh*t. He has given a lot to our National team and will continue to do so. Haven’t you heard about our best player, someone named Donovan, which has been in this league basically his entire career and has done pretty damn well for out National Team and the face of soccer in this country! So relax and lets see what happens in Brazil……
This. Best comment I’ve seen thus far
$6.5M x 4 Years = $26 Million Dollars. Plus whatever endorsements and ads.
If I make an average if $100,00K a year over a 30 year career in my field I will have totaled 3 Million in earnings.
When I think of my wife and family I totally get why Bradley makes this move, and I respect it.
I get it too. I don’t respect it at all.
I’ll bite. why don’t you respect it?
I am going to try for an analogy here: if a college applicant gets into an ivy league school, that does not necessarily mean that is the place he should go. there could be other schools that are a better fit, other schools where the kid would be better off.
whatever, i give up. why should i care if a whole bunch of people who know absolutely nothing about what they are talking about think.
good luck to bradley. it’s going to awesome having him in mls and there is a very small chance that, at this point in his career, it will affect his ability negatively
Sweet comment
+1
Gooaaallll!!!!!
Yeah, that’s not how life works.
If you get into an ivy league school–you freaking go to the ivy league school.
Nobody cares what you went to school for–they care where you went to school and what networks you developed.
Pretty much only people who can’t get into Ivy League schools think that is true.
Actually, the data now suggests you’re wrong. Going to a “lesser” school and being one of the top students in your class is proving to produce more successful graduates compared to going to an upper-tier university (like an Ivy League) and being an average student.
People go to ivy league schools to improve their chances of securing their financial future. If a harvard student is offered a $6M per year job he doesn’t turn it down to remain at harvard.
Roma was bradley’s harvard and he parlayed it into security for life.
yes
Not to mention the fact that the more USMNT players we have based in the US – the easier it will be to convene training camps and keep players fresh. Travelling all the way from Europe to the US, then Central America for CONCACAF qualifiers is a marathon of travel. Having more of our key players based in the US, in the long run, is good thing for USMNT.
Travel argument doesn’t necessarily hold up. Less travel to the occasional national team events, sure, but waaaaay more travel for league play compared to a european country.
Bradley could play in MLS til he’s 36 (barring extenuating circumstances) easily, and make a crap ton of money doing it.
It’s an amazing career move for him, it just sucks for USMNT fans since his form might suffer.
meh. How much will the guy lose in 5 months?
Financially, it is a no-brainer. After the WC he will either be getting a shitload of money from TFC or he will use his the new salary as a starting point for a move.
The role he plays on the USMNT is as a leader. The team’s results really do depend on how he plays. That is a role he would likely never have at Roma, so in that sense MLS is better preparation, at least psychologically.
There is little evidence MB will take it easy so I really do not think 5 months playing for TFC will hurt compared to playing only a bit at Roma over the same period.
Is any Bradley (M or B) capable of taking it easy?
It just doesn’t seem like it.
Isn’t the primary purpose for pursuing a career to make money? Therefore, it’s an excellent career move. Come on, who’s going to turn down a $6mm increase in pay per year, that would be insane.
I think your point is so obvious that everyone is overlooking it. Bradley was living in Rome making a comfortable living but not something that he could live forever on. With this move he secures his family’s financial future for the rest of his career. Let’s not forget that his profession carries a tremendous amount of risk and he is one bad tackle from becoming Stu Holden and having to start back at square one. Congrats to the guy for working so hard to achieve this level of success so early in his career. I for one have no concerns for his USMNT career. He will spend even more time (January camps!) with the team and incur far less travel now that he is on this continent.
Nice. Professionalism for the professional ball player. Vicarious life for the rest of us.
Great stuff
He is getting a 2 million increase (post-tax) each year. That being said, it’s a financial move only where he is going from 2 years guaranteed to 6 years guaranteed. Either way, his call..doesn’t mean I have to like it
MLS is challenging. Ask Beckham, Henry, Keane, or Cahill if it is easy to win in this leage.
What do you think this is? Lee Nguyen in Vietnam?
The difference is he isn’t challenging for a starting place (though Henry is), but he is challenging to win and be the best.
Win? It’s a bout of luck.
Each one of those players being far past their primes simply and utterly dominated everyone they played. Thierry Herny playing at 50% on a bum knee was still schooling top MLS defenders like they were youth squads.
Thierry Henry utterly dominated the EPL in his prime, but, while he has shown flashes of brilliance in MLS, he has not utterly dominated stateside.
As for Bradley, I understand the consternation of some. However, this move is a brilliant one on behalf of MLS and the type of move that is long overdue. It is also quite clear that Bradley has much more value to an MLS side than one in Europe, which is why he was able to demand such a wage. Further, as others have said, MB will take in a much greater role in MLS than he would’ve had elsewhere and he will not be bound by the whims of a foreign management, which seems to consistently undervalue American talent. Ideally you’d like to see our best players sharpening their skills against the best in the world week in and week out. However, as often as not the development of our top talent is stymied in Europe as they either languish on the bench or find themselves on a terrible side. Personally, I’d rather a player at Bradley’s age return and dominate MLS than settle for 2 or 3 appearances a month at Roma.
Very true. Bradley officially sucks!
No, BRILLIANT direction in terms of his career.
He’s not going to start or get major minutes at Roma. If he transferred to another club in another major European league, unless it’s someone at the bottom of La Liga or Premiership or Bundesliga (and I question if it’s a smart move to go to a club where the manager could be fired any day, fans are turning on the players and things are ugly), he’s otherwise not going to start. In other words, he’d be trading Roma for say….AC Milan. Or Liverpool. Or Dortmund. And that’s not an improvement for this year.
Here’s how this plays out this year:
–he goes to TFC and gets major playing time and minutes.
–he shows up at the WC match-fit and in-form.
–he looks good in the WC.
–major clubs come a-calling.
–he transfers to a major club that sees him as a critical addition and a WC star (rather than a sub coming from Roma who wasn’t good enough to start).
Brilliant move for his career. Are there some gambles here? You bet. But less of a gamble than staying at Roma and hope someone gets injured. Or gambling that he goes a season without serious PT, goes in to the WC not match-fit or sharp and impresses people. Or goes to another major club in another major league and will earn PT (when he wasn’t in the coaches’ original plans). Or goes to a terrible club in a major league (like Nurnberg) and hopes the coach who hired him doesn’t get fired in a month, that the players don’t freeze him out with the infighting and politics of a losing side, that the poor play doesn’t degrade his sharpness and form.
No, moving to TFC in a WC year is his best chance for major PT. And being in-form and fit is his best chance of impressing in the WC. And good play in the WC is his best opportunity for a major club to seek him as a starter.
While true, he spent 10 seasons in Europe…
This makes me sick. Of all people I thought he’s say true to the American in Europe dream…lots more to prove and it will not happen in MLS, sorry. And I’m an MLS fan. He just dropped about 20 league levels down. He could have wrote his own ticket in a year or two. Seeing him and to a much lesser extent, Dempsey, sell out for the money is absolutely sickening.
Nasty
Seems to me that he did just write his ticket. No one in Europe was paying him close to that (Xabi Alonso pulls 4m for instance)
I dont mean to be nasty. i was just upset. still am. yes he wrote his financial ticket. yest i get he got major financial security. i read he was making 4M/yr and now he gets 6.5M/yr – yes tht’s a big jump. but this is mb. son of bb, the man who jumped in the middle of a near civil war to coach the game hhe loved for the same or less than he got as US coach. a man who just took a job in a low level league to earn his way up and prove he can coach in europe. i had to believe his son had another level, a CL team in a top 4 league. ok, so at roma he dropped to 5th middie, but im betting he could have started for a few other CL teams in a top 4 league. would thry pay him the 6.5? probably not. but i want to believe its about the love of the game, the opportunity to test yourself everyday and play everyday against the best in the world so you can get better – and then play better for teh nats. nothing about this move makes him a better player of tests him. and that bums me out.
He has already accomplished a ton in Europe and moving to MLS has it’s own opportunity. The opportunity to elevate TFC and the league to another level. The opportunity to be a true superstar in that town. The opportunity to act as an example to young American athletes. To show them that you can become a very rich man playing soccer and you can do it in MLS. That kinda stuff may not mean squat to you, but it may to guys like Donavan, Dempsey, and Bradley.
“Accomplished a ton” may be a bit of an overstatement. The only reason he is a rich man in MLS is because he left MLS. Nothing here or anywhere says starting in and staying in MLS will make you a rich man. Donovan has been underpaid (and under valued) until this season. Your argument has a few holes: How is going abroad not being an example to young American athletes? You don’t define ‘true superstar’. On Toronto? Is that even possible or is that an oxymoron? Can one player elevate a team, yes. Can Michael Bradly, sure. But can he elevated the league? No. We’re not talking Beckham here.
He was makine 850K pounds…nowhere near 4M/year…
We’re both wrong. Ives just said he made 1.5M/year. My point still stands.
850 k euros not pounds…i’m still much closer 😉
Wow–just wow! This (going to TFC) is the best plan for MB starting for a major Euro side in Fall 2014. The BEST plan.
This gives him PT and match fitness before the WC. If he impresses in the WC then he’ll get offers from major sides who see him as a starter. Being on the bench at Roma won’t do that.
The “Europe Dream” you talk about is yours. This guy (MB) has been a veritable vagabond, paid the price and shown his value. Now maybe going to TFC gives him a shot at a bigger club b/c it prepares him for the WC (far more likely than being on the bench at Roma). Or maybe he and his wife are going to have more kids and he wants to be closer to home. Or is tired of learning new languages (i understand he learned first Dutch, then some Germain and now Italian so he’d fit in better). Maybe he didn’t want to learn Russian or Turkish or Spanish. But if you look at the best way for MB to be starting (not on the bench) for a major club in a major league, it’s by having an outstanding WC. Which path is going to give him the best shot at an outstanding WC–sitting on the bench with Roma, available for 1 training day prior to a NT game? Or playing regularly for 1/2 season with TFC, being able to train with his NT mates for longer stretches?
I think it’s funny that everyone is spouting off about the “European dream” as if he didn’t play 10 seasons there!
me too. wow, 10 seasons there? including Serie A. besides Lalas, what other Americans have earned a paycheck from that league? I don’t know but it can’t be many, Nice accomplishment
EXACTLY