Top Stories

Reports: Konrad De La Fuente set to join Real Valladolid on loan

3 Shares

Konrad De La Fuente left Barcelona in 2021 to earn consistent playing time in France, but after only one season with Ligue 1 side Marseille, the American winger is reportedly set on a return to Spain.

La Liga club Real Valladolid is closing in on acquiring De La Fuente on loan for the upcoming season, RMC Sport reported Monday among other French outlets. The season-long loan will also include a purchase option, according to the reports.

The Florida native joined Marseille from Barcelona last summer, but struggled for consistent playing time under Jorge Sampaoli. De La Fuente totaled one goal and three assists in 23 combined appearances for Marseille before a knee injury forced him to miss the final three months of the season.

De La Fuente mainly featured for Barcelona’s U-19 and U-23 side during his first spell in Spain. He made three appearances for the senior squad before signing a four-year contract with Marseille following his transfer.

De La Fuente featured twice for the U.S. men’s national team during the Concacaf World Cup Qualifying octagonal round back in September, but has not featured since. In total, De La Fuente has earned three caps for the USMNT.

Real Valladolid earned promotion back to La Liga this year, finishing second in the Segunda Liga behind champions Almeria. The Spanish club opens its competitive schedule on August 13 against Villarreal.

Comments

  1. Perhaps it will be good to be back in Spain for Konrad. Wasn’t it like is 3rd match in France got abandoned because the fans came out of the stands, and another match later in the season for fans throwing things at players. If he hadn’t gotten injured for most of the 2nd half he was on pace to have similar minutes to Tim Weah and Tyler Adams. Also pretty cool that he’d get to play for Vallodolid owner Ronaldo.

    Reply
    • I’m not so sure about the playing time part via injury, especially when you consider that his manager Sampaoli, came out and publicly condemned him for not being professional, so for all we know that had more to do with limited opportunities after he came back from injury. He needs to find the right place for sure, and hopefully Valladolid offers that right now!

      Reply
      • You’re right it is hard to tell, however in the first 20 matches Konrad played 17 of 20 (actually 18 because he played against Nice before it was abandoned for fan violence but didn’t get in the replay). He then was not in the squad for Jan 16, and then is listed with a muscle tear 1/22- 2/13. Konrad then returned 2/17 for a Europa match that he started. He comes off the bench on the 24th and then makes the roster a few more times. Before being shut down by a knee injury. The manager’s comments came out between the muscle injury and the knee injury. Was it a lack of “professionalism” or a kid trying to get through an injury? When he was healthy he played.

  2. Well, the good news is, Konrad SHOULD play for Valladolid. They’re freshly promoted so they’ll be a couple of notches below Barcelona or even Marseille and you’d think a guy of his talents can carve out PT there.

    The bad news is, they’re, well, freshly promoted. Which means every week is a slog.

    Reply

Leave a Comment