By DAN KARELL
For the second successive season, United States Under-20 forward Mario Rodriguez will be playing for a new club. Only this time, he’ll be staying in Germany.
On Wednesday, Borussia Mönchengladbach announced that Rodriguez had completed a deal to move to the Bundesliga club, signing a contract through 2015. The club announced that the North Hollywood, California native would be playing with the Borussia U23s next season.
Rodriguez returned to Germany this week after the U.S. U-20s were knocked out of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey last Thursday, losing twice and drawing one in three group stage matches. Last year, Rodriguez made the move from the Los Angeles Galaxy academy to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, where he played with the club’s U19 squad.
“Here (at Borussia), I can go the next step in my career,” Rodriguez said on the team’s website.
The 19-year-old scored one goal and added two assists, starting all five matches for Tab Ramos U.S. U-20 side as they were runners-up in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship last February/March. Rodriguez also helped his club Kaiserslautern to the German U-19 Cup final, losing to 1. FC Köln, 1-0, at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
What do you think of this news? Do you see him eventually making the Borussia first time? Do you believe this is the right move for Rodriguez?
Share your thoughts below.