LAUDERHILL, Fla. — Matt Miazga had a breakout year with the New York Red Bulls in 2015. Whether he returns to the club to try and build on that is yet to be determined.
The Red Bulls are focusing on trying to bring back the core of their Supporters’ Shield-winning team from a season ago, but it is unclear right now whether Miazga, their young starting centerback, will be back for the 2016 campaign. Miazga, 20, is attracting interest from oversees, and the Red Bulls are having to weigh whether they should sell him or not given that he is entering the final year of his contract with them.
A recent report from Goal USA stated that Miazga and his representation are keen on having him bolt for Europe. That has left the Red Bulls in a predicament, as they have to consider selling him now to get something in return with risking losing him for free.
“Matt is still up in the air a little bit,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch told SBI on Day 1 of the 2016 MLS Combine on Friday. “He’s surveying a lot of things, we’re trying to find ways to keep him here. We also want to be very supportive of him and not put too much pressure on him to make any big decisions right now.
“I think every day is a little bit of a feeling out process in terms of what’s available for him, what the opportunities are here, how to challenge him to continue to think about the fact that being here is a big part of his development.”
Miazga was nothing short of a revelation last year. He started 24 of the 26 regular-season games he played in for the the Red Bulls, and helped them capture their second Supporters’ Shield title in three years. His impressive performances for club and country also saw him promoted from the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team to the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team to the senior U.S. Men’s National Team all in a matter of months.
Now, he is contemplating a big career decision. Does he move to Europe to take on the next challenge in 2016 or stay at home with the Red Bulls, where playing time is more of a sure thing?
Marsch and the Red Bulls are hoping for the latter.
“What’s important for Matt is to understand that there may be certain things that he thinks he wants or needs, but there’s also realities that we have to face,” said Marsch, “and trying to find a way for everyone to move forward and benefit from each other no matter how long he’s here or what the situation is. I think Matt understands that, and he’s in mature in his approach in that.”
Ideally he secures a transfer he likes now for a decent fee, and his new team loans him back to the Red Bulls for the 2016 season.
I hope he stays one more year. It would be good for his development to get regular play time. By the way, correct your spelling. The word “oversees” in the phrase “is attracting interest from oversees…” should really be “overseas”.
You have to have teams that want you to move, to actually move. I mean the kid can “want” to go to Europe, but if no Europe team actually WANTS him (which is the case, and rightfully so) then it gets harder to do so.
Are you his agent where is this inside information coming from?
There is no doubt in my mind that Miazga has a bunch of European clubs interested in him. To suggest no club is interested in him and “rightfully so” is one of the most asinine things ever posted on the internet.
That’s why there have been so many bids, yeah????? ‘scouting’ doesn’t mean they actually want to buy him, there champ.
How do you know whether or not there have been bids?
If there had been there’d be a report somewhere, even just a rumor. There has been NOTHING of any sort, mostly cuz no one has any interest in a transfer of Matt Miazga to a notable European team or league. Maybe Malta or something like that, possibly then.
If I’m him, unless a really good fit emerges where he’s likely to get substantial minutes in a better league, I’d negotiate a substantial pay raise with a modest release clause and plan to leave in a year or two.
Well said. If he goes to Europe now he will make some more cash but sit on the bench and get stale.
As far as his eventual development goes, I think he would be better off playing another year in MLS and then going abroad. However, if he has a chance at a big contract now, who can blame him for taking it?
I agree he’d be better off waiting another year but also agree that financially it probably doesn’t make sense. He made $70k last season and would probably make at least that much every month if he moved. We’re not talking about a small increase in salary here.
i hope the report he turned down a “big” Italian club in hopes of getting an EPL deal is false. the fascination with the EPL makes no sense. Americans don’t seem to do all that well there. go elsewhere!
I think the language barrier is one reason. Living abroad in England at age 20 is one thing, but doing it in a country where you don’t speak the language is another. I know plenty of players do it but I can understand the desire to hold out for a move to England.
As slowleftarm alluded to, language barrier is one thing. Never underestimate having to adapt to new cultures. Its easy for us to say we want our players in Italy or Spain; we don’t have to worry about the transition. With his Polish ties he should consider Germany.
Second, don’t underestimate what some of these guys have been dreaming about their entire lives. They’ve only ever been exposed to either MLS or EPL (if Mexican, than Liga MX). Miazga grew up watching Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal etc. He probably dreamed of one day playing for Wenger, or stepping onto the field of Old Trafford. With the addition of Bundesliga to Fox, and the rumoured La Liga addition, this will hopefully change.