After weeks of rumors and denials from both parties, it appears that Carlos Ruiz is indeed heading to Veracruz.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the Union and the second-division Mexican side have agreed on a transfer that will end the mercurial striker's latest stint in MLS. Union manager Peter Nowak divulged that Ruiz' time with the club was up after Saturday's loss to Colorado, but now the details of his latest move have emerged.
The Daily News reports that Ruiz, who scored six goals in 14 games with the Union, stands to make about $100,000 more in salary with Veracruz, while his $306,671 figure comes off the Union's books once the deal goes through.
How would you characterize Ruiz' time with the Union? What area of need do you hope to see the Union address with their new-found funds?
Share your thoughts below.
Emirates Cup
At over $306,000 per year, Ruiz was among MLS’s highest-paid players…and yet a second-division team in a third-world country will pay him over $400,000! That right there pretty much says it all — MLS is such a bush-league joke that it’s not even a third-world league; maybe fourth-world at best! It’s beyond shameful and pathetic!
Ya made me laugh out loud.
But what I don’t get is what did Philly get to give Ruiz up? No mention of Transfer fees,and the ‘savings’ of $300K doesn’t make sense because they signed Ruiz to that number so they had to assume he was worth that much, (and his performance has borne that out).
Now if you were to tell me Ruiz forced the trade for the extra $100K a year, I could undertand…but what it sounds like is that he didn’t but rather agreed to it. If Philly has plans for the $300K plus the transfer fee…well now that would be a story.
Pescado àla veracruzana anyone?
Yeah, I also detest the idea that the Mexican second division is able to pay their players more than MLS. I think the salary cap needs to be doubled, at least. However, I don’t think this is up for negotiation for quite some time. This is exactly why we (MLS) nearly always get hammered in CONCACAF Champion’s League.
amen. not because he stiffed Philly. Philly is filled w/a bunch con artists anyway. In fact, the phrase “con artist” was invented in Philly. The reason we should hate Ruiz is that he seems to have pulled some emotional strings with Nowak. Look at the post-game interview w/Nowak after their last game. Nowak kept referring to the attitudes of “some fans” towards Ruiz’ diving. However, Nowak mentioned it 4 times. He didnt mention that some fans smell bad, or some fans are kind of ignorant, so its seems to have been important…as Nowak sees it. You should respect your elders Carlos. Just be honest w/Nowak. I dont care that you left for more money. However, you seem to deceived an elder who trusted in who and who thinks you were driven from Philadelphia by aggressive taunting fans.
Ruiz nicked his shin on the table at the press conference, and promptly fell to the ground clutching the opposite leg and writhing around uncontrollably.
The table was sent off, and the press conference continued on without it.
Are you serious?!? That’s the best rule MLS has ever invented. Ruiz was one of the worst cheaters in the game. Good for the league he’s gone. Ricardo Clark agrees.
Philly is still lacking that crucial Central Midfield playmaker….Paunovic looks to injury-prone to be that guy. They now need a striker as well….
racist
That is the difference between the Mexican Leagues and the MLS. The Mexican second division pays better than the MLS. Why do you think Beasley went to Mexico instead of coming to MLS.
I would have said the Balotelli but Tevez is close enough. Definitely not as skilled but a great analogy none the less.
Is this a quote from “Johnny Quest” or seomthing?
Don’t we all?
Those guys scored goals because of talent, not heart. “Working hard” doesn’t score goals. Talent does.
Sure many would like to see Mwanga, Torres, and McInerney play more, but will they score enough, or will the Union have to go out and get another forward?
Ever heard of Brian McBride? Jason Kreis?
he’s the carlos tevez of MLS.
anyone who has seen him over the last decade knows what you get when you sign carlos ruiz. a goalscorer, an enigmatic personality, A PEST!!!!!!
but he can score, and that’s hard to replace in this league
With the allocation money received for Harvey plus the 300k+ off the books with Ruiz leaving, you have to think that something is in the works.
Carlos only has two more teams to go and he’ll get a free 10-piece Daytona Beach Wings and Western BBQ Burger meal from Hooters. Why else would he have played with eight teams in the last four years? Oh yeah, his ego.
+1. Absolutely.
Personally, I agree with this rule. That said I think he was allot more valuable to the team than people give him credit. He does’t really need to flop, his ability to take the long ball from our backs is incredible although he is shorter than most MLS defensive backs. I also agree that he does not run around like Letoux but again we dont need two Sebas. Guile and the ability to create something out of not much is what we will be missing.
I don’t understand this from the Union’s point of view. Ives and Co, do you have any spin on why? Obviously there are savings, but he has been productive, and the Union are in contention for the Playoffs. Won’t this leave them much less punch at the top?
Nowak emphasizes team spirit and extra effort. Ruiz was a lone wolf who seemed to be there just to extend his career. He was an opportunistic striker who played very little defense. By comparison, Le Toux is all over the field, doing what needs to be done. I think his Union team mates even got tired of his theatrics and whining.
The Union has many talented young players. I’d like to see Mwanga, Torres and McInernney play more. If anything, they might benifit by buying an experienced midfielder DP with great passing ability, like Beckham provides for LA.
That evil fish-man is not to be trusted.
“Dude seems to have a love/hate relationship with EVERYTHING”
FYP. And the feeling is mutual.
dude seems to have a love/hate relationship with MLS
Wow. Ruiz is going to make DP-type money in the 2nd Division? Crazy.
Love him or hate him, Ruiz scores goals!! The last time I checked you need to score goals to win. Did I want him to try harder? Of course, I did. But you cant always get what you want. I’ll take a lazy, proven goal scorer than a marathon runner who scores the occasional goal. I’m not bashing Le Toux just trying to make a point.
Frankly, I think it’s because of the new dive and get fined and suspended rule. It’s dumb rules like that, that will scare away scorers in the league.
Danny Mwanga will need to play more like Ruiz and less like LeToux. In the last game Danny played too much side-ways and back. He needs to take on defenders more often and be harder on the ball, more like Ruiz.
valdes is still awesome. he even gets up field well.
Last time I checked heart doesn’t score goals.
Dude did you see the Colorado game, he got smoked on both goals.
Would love to see them land a guy who can put the ball on frame more often than not…and if he was in his early to mid 20s, all the better.
Making room for Josue Martinez perhaps?
Also freeing up some funds to extend Valdes’ contract?
The Union need another striker stat. Love him or hate him, Ruiz can put the ball in the back of the net. The fact he’s getting a nice pay raise at Veracruz puts the fans-ran-me-out-of-town excuse in question though.
my son is rejoicing. Talented but seemed to loaf along. Le Toux might not have his gift of improv, but has 5x his heart.
good ridance
@Rambo, right, Danny and Roger Torres too.
He did some things well, but I get frustrated when people say one things and do another. If he wanted to go to Mexico for more $, man up and say that, don’t pledge yourself to a team and then split anyway.
As far as the team goes, if he was gonna leave anyway, get his salary back as soon as they can and sign a new person is the way to go.
At least Danny M. will get more playing time