Photo by ISI Photos
Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid hasn’t paid much mind to the various reports out of Argentina stating that Crew star Guillermo Barros Schelotto was going to leave Columbus to play for his hometown team Gimnasia de La Plata. He’s ignored the talk because Schelotto has maintained his desire to return to the Crew.
"He hasn’t come to us saying that he wants to leave," Schmid told SBI on Tuesday. "He’s under contract with us and we just sent him his P-1 visa so as far as we’re concerned he is coming back.
"I know there’s some pressure from his home club for him to go back and play there but he hasn’t expressed to us that it is what he wants to do."
Schelotto enjoys legendary status in Argentina for his exploits with Boca Juniors, and it is that career that Schmid feels gives Schelotto the right to go out on his own terms, even if that means leaving MLS after one year.
"If that’s something that he wants to do then that’s something he has earned the right to do," Schmid said. "He has earned the respect and the right to make that decision and we would respect his wishes.
"That said, he has enjoyed his time here and I believe he’s coming back."