A blazing hot start to the 2016 MLS season for LA Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos earned him a spot for Mexico ahead of next month’s Copa America, however, the 27-year-old has reportedly declined the call-up.
According to El Tri head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, he and Dos Santos had a conversation regarding a roster spot, but the Galaxy attacker opted not to accept it.
“Giovani himself declined the invitation,” Osorio said in a news conference in Mexico City on Tuesday. “To be ethical, what was spoken about will stay between the two of us.”
Dos Santos has recorded five goals and as many assists in seven matches in his second season with the Galaxy.
Despite the veteran’s absence, Osorio’s El Tri still boast plenty of experience and talent.
Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa continues to lead out the back, while dangerous attackers Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Andres Guardado and Oribe Peralta will all play key roles up front. Hernandez is coming off of a stellar season with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, where he totaled 26 goals across all competitions.
Mexico will kick off Group C play against Luis Suarez and Uruguay on June 5 before taking on Jamaica and Venezuela to close out the group stage.
Here’s the full roster breakdown for El Tri:
Goalkeepers (3): Guillermo Ochoa (Malaga), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
Defenders (9): Paul Aguilar (Club America), Miguel Layun (Porto), Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Diego Reyes (Real Sociedad), Nestor Araujo (Santos Laguna), Hector Moreno (PSV), Yasser Corona (Queretaro), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres), Jesus Molina (Santos Laguna)
Midfielders (8): Jesus Manuel Corona (Porto), Hector Herrera (Porto), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Andres Guardado (PSV), Carlos Pena (Chivas), Jurgen Damm (Tigres), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Jesus Duenas (Tigres)
Forwards (3): Javier Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (Club America)
This pleases me greatly. I hate GDS in an El Tri jersey, but I have warmed up to him as an LAG fan over the past few weeks.
Jeezus! Whats the record for most Jesus’?? (how do you say multiple Jesuses?) on a team?
I figured that somehow Terry would end up with LA, to further advance their make-over into the Evil Empire.
The way Mexico plays doesn’t work as well for GdS. El Tri’s attack is a lot more structured now, and doesn’t provide the same sort of free flowing openings that play to GdS strengths. I don’t think Mexico misses him at all.
Representing your country is supposed to mean something. When was the last USMNT to decline a call? Just out of curiosity..
I don’t know usually the US keeps that stuff pretty well in house. I suppose when Chandler turned down a Gold Cup that would cap tie him is the last I can really think of
Technically, Howard and Donovan were declining calls when they said they were taking a break they were just more upfront about it.
The Mexican federation is just so different from the US I’m not sure you can really compare the two. He has 90 caps and represented Mexico in two world cups, won a gold medal, the U17 WC, and 3 Gold cups, I think he’s earned the right to say no thanks.
Not sure if it counts but Jesse Gonzalez of FCD turned down a US camp in favor of the Mexico U23 camp…
He hasn’t played with El Tri since the Gold Cup when he was benched for the knockout rounds, not sure its much of a surprise. He’s only scored 3 goals in his last 33 internationals.
Not sure he should be criticized for not going if he isn’t going to play. He is in good form for Galaxy so why leave your club just to practice, he would miss a couple LA games before the MLS break.
Kinda late, the mexican media and fans are giving him hell, that’s why he made those tweets, most likely he is never going to play for Mexico again.
Mexico changes coaches faster than most people change underwear. If they see he is scoring lots of goals, is popular in LA, he will be back forthwith. GDS is too much of a talent for even a talented Mexico squad, to squander Some players skipped years playing for El Tri because of coaches, etc. And this time it’s no different.
There’s always been a fair bit of animosity between him and the FMF surrounding their treatment and opinion of his brother. Seeing his brother not on the list either, I do wonder if that was not a catalyst.
I was thinking the same thing blood comes before water. If his brother isn’t in neither is he. Tough choice but I respect it if that is the reason he opted out. And as well as he is playing he in my opinion would have played.
Article on ESPN said JDS was omitted due to injury….
It must have been a very recent injury. He played very well for Villareal in the recent Europa League playoffs against Liverpool.
There might be other issues, a recent article in a Mexican magazine that s actually published in the US mentioned that some Mexican athletes including several football stars were trying to ne shaken down by criminal elements in Mexico. Apparently most, if not all of Dos Santos relatives live in the US and most in LA. And while all of the Dos Santos children were born in Mexico, their father is Brazilian, Gio and Johnathan left Mexico at an early age to Europe.
Mexico is not really a home.
He was probably told his chances of getting playing time were minimal so he decided not to go.
Was told his spot wasn’t guaranteed – said adios.
He was probably worried that if he left they’d give his roster spot to The Zlatan.
odd