By DAN KARELL
Carlos Vela has turned down a chance to play at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Following a meeting between Vela and Mexico National Team officials including head coach Miguel Herrera and national team director Héctor González Iñárritu, Vela again said that he could not make a 100 percent commitment to El Tri. As a result, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) said that Vela would not be considered for the World Cup squad.
“(Vela) expressed once more that he isn’t 100 percent emotionally and mentally ready to play at the World Cup,” read a statement from the FMF. “During the meeting, Miguel Herrera confirmed that there would be no compromises without a commitment to play for El Tri. So in short, Carlos Vela will not be called-up for the World Cup.”
The 24-year-old Vela made waves in 2011 by refusing a call-up from then-El Tri manager Jose Manuel de la Torre for the 2011 Gold Cup, and he hasn’t accepted a call-up since. Following de la Torre’s dismissal last September, it was thought that Vela could return to the national team, but Vela stuck to his stance and remained with club Real Sociedad for the World Cup qualifying matches in October and November.
Vela broke onto the scene in 2005 at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, leading Mexico to the title and finishing as the Golden Boot winner. His performances earned him a move from Chivas de Guadalajara to Arsenal, and after a few short loan spells in Spain, he remained in London from 2008 through 2011, though he found it hard to break into the first team. Following a loan in 2011 to Real Sociedad, Vela made the move permanent in 2012 and emerged as a crucial player for the Basque-based club last season, scoring 14 goals in 35 league games.
This season, Vela’s has nine goals in 21 La Liga matches and three more goals in eight UEFA Champions League games. Vela currently has 35 caps for El Tri, though it looks unlikely that he’ll ever earn any more.
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What do you think of this news? Surprised that he’s turned down a chance to play at the World Cup? Do you expect him to ever play for Mexico again? Do you think Mexico will miss him at the World Cup?
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