SBI EXCLUSIVE
Lost in the commotion surrounding the European transfer of Eddie Johnson and the failed transfer move by Brad Guzan was a transfer bid that stayed under the radar and nearly became the biggest story of the MLS off-season.
Red Bulls and U.S. national team forward Jozy Altidore almost transferred to English club Reading. The bid was one of the best kept secrets secrets of January and Altidore came close to joining fellow Americans Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey at the club.
"I’ve heard a lot about the club and it was an up and coming club that was interested in me," Altidore said. "It looked like it was something that was going to be a good idea for me but the Red Bulls are where I’m going to be.
"This is where my home is going to be right now," Altidore said. "I’m committed to the team and I’m not even worried about what happened."
According to sources, Reading had been scouting Altidore for more than two years and made a serious bid, which Altidore was strongly considering. Reading’s inability to sell one of it’s players during the transfer window may have caused the potential deal to fall apart.
Currently in 17th place in the English Premier League, one point out of the relegation zone, Reading had targeted Altidore to help the club’s struggling offense, which has been shut out in four straight matches. Reading is currently on a nine-match winless streak (0-8-1).
So why did Altidore consider Reading? The chance to play right away in the English Premier League, as opposed to going to a bigger club and not playing much, was appealing, as well as the fact that Reading had been following Altidore closely for years.
Altidore is expected to be a major transfer target again this summer (He also received serious interest from Real Madrid this winter) but the chances of a Reading deal appear remote.
"It was a whole process and it just didn’t work out,’ Altidore said of his talks with Reading. "I’m still happy to be with New York because I’ve watched this team since I was growing up.
"This is the team I wanted to play for in the beginning and the team I’m playing for now and I wouldn’t have it any other way."
Guys I like the slowly but surely method being used by Dempsey, Spector (he started at a big one), Bradley, Adu, Subotic, Benny (for a while at least), Heath Pearce, Charlie Davies, Maurice Edu, Johan Smith, Sal Zizzo, Bryan Arguez to name a few. American players are fit and tough but what we need to get over the hump is soccer smarts! These guys are doing the undergrad work so that they are ready for Master’s and PHD’s. Jozy go to a club in Holland, Portugal, Germany that is mid or top of the table or even a Celtic or Rangers. The thing is to keep playing minutes and getting better. Cuase in 3 or 4 years if you continue to become the player people think you are going to be the Real Madrids, Arsenal, Milan’s and such will be waiting. It is just exciting to have an American being thought of that way.
Rossi doesn’t count – but I am not bitter! LOL
If he really wanted to go to England, there are much better teams in need of a decent forward.
why not reading? they play a fighting, attacking style, and he would’ve played.
but of course everyone on this blog knows better for jozy; he definitely should wait for the call from sir alex (grab some bench roons!) or from a [insert random league] club that meets the 10 specific requirements of some lame blog reader.
Danny, I’ll come to your defense.
I’ve watched plenty of Reading games and I definitely don’t think Jozy would have benefited from moving there. He almost has to go to another league altogether. The mid-table teams in England aren’t tactically sound. They play a lot of kick and run and they don’t provide the greatest service. Hell, even Liverpool doesn’t provide the greatest service. Jermaine Pennant, anyone?
At the same time, I don’t think a place like Italy is an option either. Going to Fiorentina or Lazio wouldn’t suit him either. Personally, I think he’s in a situation like Adu and Bradley. At 18, you go over to a top team in Portugal, the Netherlands, or France and you play for a quality side that doesn’t have the fear of relegation, has quality development, and when you’ve developed enough you get sold to bigger club.
You do not want to go somewhere like Reading or Fulham, get crap service, have a player or two leave in the January window and then end up having to play the Dempsey/McBride role of getting the ball kicked to your head with no support. Who is Jozy going to learn from at Reading? Kevin Doyle??? Leroy Lita??? Dave Kitson??? WRONG.
Couple points based on earlier comments:
1) Many people think of lower-level EPL teams as “below” the standard of our best American players. Let me just point out that Clint Dempsey, the best American field player (ie, non-goalie) is currently playing forward for a team doomed for relegation. And I thnk it’s doing him good to be there and playing every game. He is making a name for himself that he wouldn’t by sitting and watching at ManU, Arsenal or Pool.
2) Someone called Red Bull NY a “mid-table” team based on the fact they make the playoffs. Just want to point out that practically everyone in MLS makes the playoffs.
Where is Tony in Quakeland, I bet he has a similar take to me! I need his backup!
i think that altidore should go to a top tier dutch team, like ajax or feynoord (sp.
in the dutch league he would tally like 20 goals im sure by seasons end and then he will have all the confidence he needs to be a big game player.
then he will get some serious offers by teams of a higher calibur, like everton or maybe blackburn, where he could seriously be considered a starter as soon as he came in.
whatever the case, its important he not sit on the bench.
Good players can sign for relavely bad teams, and its the better choice than signing for a team to sit on their bench.
I’m a West Ham fan, and while he’d EASILY improve our front line, I think it’d be a huge mistake to go there too.
If you want the kid to fulfil his potential its either gotta be a TOP EPL team, or basically a top half team from France, Netherland, or Spain. Of course Italy and/or Germany too.
Its not like its a secret that tactically the Prem is HIGHLY lacking (my favorite league in the world, keep in mind).
I agree with most of Dannyc58’s comments. I’m so glad that he didn’t go to Reading.
I suppose some of the argument is how much you want Jozy to develop.
Do you want him having mid-table wingers serving mid table crosses into the box and Jozy fighting to get his head on them. (this wouldn’t be the style for all the teams in the Prem, but most). Or do you want him to gain more technical ability and confidence?
Is Reading a step up from RBNY in competition? Unquestionably.
Would his skills develop better/more quickly in the EPL on a TEAM LIKE READING?
I don’t see how they could, really.
I think that the expectations are getting a little too far above the play of the players.
While Altidore has shown flashes of brilliance, he is not yet ready for the big leagues, so no reason not to play for a smaller euro team.
Reading had a decent season last year and would be a big step up from NY.
Wouldn’t be ideal, given the rough play in England, but would develop him a lot more than playing 1 more year for RBNY
kpugs,
Reading are going down. And the Premiereship isn’t a good place to develop–if you watch the EPL, you know that. Spanish or Dutch leagues are far and away the best for developing.
If you told me this was anyone in a relegation battle, I’d say its crazy–and it is.
Learning his trade in the CCC, yeah thats the ticket!
Above all I think he needs one more year in MLS. Hel be an everyday starter for the first time and hel get the chance to justify the hype, earn an even bigger transfer fee and develop a little more. When he does go I would absolutely love to see him at Benfica. Altidore and Adu make up the future of the USMNT attack and to have them play together would be great. Obviously this is closer to a pipe dream than possible reality so more realisticly I just dont want him in the EPL or at Real Madrid. He needs to play and he needs to stay away from England.
Reading are 12th in Goals scored 2 behind Man City & Blackburn who have 32.
Their scoring is not the issue–at all.
I suppose all of you ridiculous crazies think Jozy would walk in to the first team at Manchester United or Internazionale?
You are all being absolutely ridiculous, do you watch the Premiership? If a player like Jozy is going to go to Europe NOW, there is NO WAY IN HELL he should go to a megaclub. He’s 18. You are all nuts.
So nuts, in fact, that I can’t believe I am even typing this post! That is how anyone is who says he should be looking to go to a bigger club.
NateinSF…couldn’t agree more. These people are frigging crazy.
Absolutely gutted!! 🙁
I expect the player we failed to shift was Leroy Lita
Do people really believe that Real Madrid would be a better starting point in his career than Reading? I disagree, I think he needs to play and not sit the bench.
Real Madrid is not known for their patience with young players. While Reading may be a bottom tier EPL side, I would prefer to see him go there over Real Madrid.
Holland or Portugal make more sense than either option stated above, but RM would probably be the WORST possible desicion
Haig’s got a point here – RBNY isn’t exactly an MLS dynasty.
At the same time, this wouldn’t be any smash story internationally – it would be packaged with the Johnson transfer to Fulham in the way Martin Rogers wrote about it on Yahoo. “MLS is a good place for relegation-bound clubs to stock up on young talent.” And I’m sorry, part of it is because of the limited exposure to OTHER leagues that we get here – Ligue 1, Eredivisie, even the Bundesliga – in part because of the language barrier. Hell, that’s a reason most US soccer fans (myself included) know more about leagues 5000 miles away than they do the ones immediately south of the border or even in S America (granted some of those are as far as Europe depending on where you live in the US. I wonder what role the various handlers and sponsor toadies have in directing these players to leagues that you can get on cable in North America, to ensure they get the maximum value from their investments.
So what? Well, good for Altidore for not jumping on this, good for MLS for keeping him around, and let’s hope he can find a club that will really develop his natural talents, wherever it is.
smokarz
I was thinking the same thing. Depending on the quality of the striker brought in and how the club is doing we could very well see Jozy move during the summer window.
If they are in the hunt and both strikers are good then i think they wait. If they are out of the race and the other striker is good then he goes.
BTW. I don’t mind a move to Reading. The kid is 18 and in a few years could move to a bigger club.
Readings problem is they can’t stop a Powder Puff team with that back 4, Reading score enough goals.
Glad that didn’t happen… The EPL is the show and I don’t think Jozy is ready for that yet. He still needs to develop. Real Madrid or Holland is where he should be IMO.
This would have been a great move for Jozy. The league compliments his style of play. Coppell is a great manager. They almost qualified for the Uefa Cup in their first season in the EPL. The problem this year is that they didn’t go out and spend money last summer. Sure would beat riding the pine for a bigger club.
American Reading or Fulham fans circa 2008 = American Wolfsburg fans circa 1997
Where are all those green shirts now?
osasuna – vela -16th place spain – starter
barca – dos santos – 2nd place spain – spot player
deportivo – guardado – 17th place spain – starter
reading – altidore – 17th place england – starter
would have been about right. i think you guys over value unproven 18 year olds. it’s good to be patriotic, but be realistic. he’s fine where he’s at. even if rbny was given 20 million over the summer for him to sit on the bench for a big club, if i was him i’d pass and take the starters minutes in a big league on a lower level team.
Wow I am still in shock from reading this head line, because usually there are reports from across the pond. But I’m not shocked that Red Bull would entertain a transfer as his contract expires at the end of 08, NYRB would miss out on any tranfer fees if they fail to sell him before then. Not that they need the money as a company but still why loose money when you get make some? Still you had to have a clue when Osorio stated after the window closed that he was looking for forwards that something was up regarding Jozy future.
I hope Jozy is not fixated on clubs in England as they are awful places to develop your game. You really need to be sent somewhere in Europe like Arsenal did for Vela or Man U did to Rossi both being sent to lower division teams in other countries for invaluable 1st team experience.
This actually could have been a great move for Jozy (and not just because I am a Reading fan) the team has good service and no finishing. He could have made an impact right away, helped ‘save the club’ from relegation, and moved onwards and upwards this summer. or be sold out of the CCC next season if they dropped (and let’s be realistic here, a season playing full out in the CCC beats a season in MLS hands down. Yes, a couple of teams in MLS could thrive in the CCC, but overall, the competition is better over the course of a season.) would it be great to have him starting for a major club? sure, but come on people, he’s not that good yet.
I would prefer to see Jozy move to a similar sized club as Reading in Series A or La Liga. Maybe even a move to the Netherlands a la Michael Bradley. My interests stem from the national team, and I think they need more creative attacking players. And I think that style of play would be fostered in those leagues as opposed to the EPL.
no idea on the amount of the transfer offer?
Actually I’ve seen Reading a lot this year, could have been a brilliant move for Altidore – they have a team in place but lack quality up top. And Reading are committed to attacking soccer, he’d have had support and service.
Bradley would be a better fit for them though. Last year they made a push for the UEFA Cup, the only difference this year is the loss of Sidwell to Chelsea and their lack of a player who can create goal scoring chances (they need better finishing, but needed better finishing last year as well).
Absolutely no comparison to the situation in Derby.
I would perfer to see Jozy move to a similar sized club as Reading in Series A or La Liga. Maybe even a move to the Netherlands a la Michael Bradley. My interest stem from the national team, and I think they need more creative attacking players. And I think that style of play would be fostered in those leagues as opposed to the EPL.
“than a struggling team in the MLS”
RBNY aren’t great or anything, but they’re far from struggling. As a lower playoff seed for five years running, they fit the textbook definition of “mid-table.”
WOW. That would have been a huge story if it happened. I really wouldn’t have minded too much if he did go to Reading. First team action in one of the world’s top 3 leagues isn’t bad.
But yes, staying in NY was a good choice. He will keep building his resume in MLS and the international matches and develop more. Thus, creating more buzz and most likely being sold to a Euro team with better facilities and a better player development model than Reading.
“I’m still happy to be with New York because I’ve watched this team since I was growing up. “This is the team I wanted to play for in the beginning and the team I’m playing for now and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
THAT’S the way it’s supposed to be. Jozy Altidore is the poster child for MLS, and they barely know it.
Also – this kid has an inherent knack for saying the right things.
last post should have read “wouldn’t have bee”n
Whew.. Thank God… He probably won’t have been granted a work permit anyway as he hasn’t played enough with the senior Nats….
Agree with jpc, he should go anywhere but the BPL. Spain or Portugal, please.
Dont go to the EPL. Its death for young foreign players that need a lot of development. Go to Holland,Spain or even Benfica w/ adu
Our players need to quit going to bottom dwelling clubs. At minimum, they should be playing in mid-level clubs.
A young player like Altidore should be in the Dutch league or French league or follow Freddy into Portugal. Develop his game in Europe, then transfer to a big club. Kind of what Michael Bradley is doing. That is the career path.
Going to a low level EPL team is not the avenue to go. Look at Benny. He should have went to another league to play or stay at Hamburg and fight for his spot. Look at guys like Essien and Rosicky. They played well in lower leagues and got the attention of big teams in their early 20s – not 18.
Our talented players should consider the same path.
HEY EVERYBODY! I LIKE THE MOVE! HE WOULD HAVE PLAYED! A struggling team in the PL is better than a struggling team in the MLS! Oh well!
“I’ve heard a lot about the club and it was an up and coming club that was interested in me,”
and
Currently in 17th place in the English Premier League, one point out of the relegation zone, Reading had targeted Altidore to help the club’s struggling offense, which has been shut out in four straight matches. Reading is currently on a nine-match winless streak (0-8-1).
Ok Reading is no up and comer. they are terrible. and they are boring. and they would ruin jozy, let him rot and pull a derby. By the time Jozy was match fit, Reading would be out of it and relagation zone.
Reading? Pass
wasn’t osrio looking to bring in an additional forward? that would be a strong indication that jozy could be on the move by summer.
I can’t get over this, honestly. Our brighest start taht we’ve ever produced (arguably), and he was set to go to f***ing Reading? This is humiliating.
Mexico has youngsters starting for Barca & signed my Arsenal (Vela), and our 18 year old stud is going to a poor English Team.
WTF was everyone that cares about Jozy thinking. Wow, I’m furious over this!
“Reading’s inability to sell one of it’s players during the transfer window may have caused the potential deal to fall apart.”
That would probably be out-of-favor 4th striker Leroy Lita. However, I believe that there were bids for him late in the window.
It’s a tough season for Reading and they have now truly dropped into a relegation battle. As much as I hope they (and Fulham) can battle to safety, perhaps this wouldn’t have been the best move for Jozy at this time.
The money must have been really, really good.
And I’m certain there would have been a high sell-on clause.
I don’t want Jozy to leave until we win a championship, but I wonder if he’ll even finish the ’08 season in a NY shirt. And one thing about Reading: he would start from his arrival, which wouldn’t happen at a bigger club.
Wow. Ives, doesn’t it seem unlikely that the Red Bulls will sell Altidore mid-season? I think he’s hear for 2008 and goes somewhere next winter.
I respect Coppell as a manager; but I’m glad it didn’t happen. Jozy should have his sights set a little higher.
Dude, we go from Real Madrid to Reading?
I want to vomit.
Reading? Are you kidding me. Holy Crap that would have been awful.
Probably couldn’t have gotten a work permit anyways, but man, I can’t believe that never leaked out anywhere.
Wow. Interesting development. With Altidore’s pedigree I would have thought a bigger club would come calling. Like Fulham, Reading is near the relegation zone so I think the choice to stay with Redbull (at least until the summer) was a good one.