Options growing for Szetela

 

Consider Danny Szetela's time in MLS close to over.

The Clifton native and Columbus Crew midfielder opened some eyes and increased interest in his services by scoring the U.S. Under-20 national team's lone goal in its 1-1 tie against South Korea on Saturday.

Currently in the last year of his original MLS contract, Szetela became free to sign a pre-contract as of July 1st and potential suitors are beginning to line up.

Who has expressed interest so far? Parma, Galatasaray and Glasgow Rangers are three top teams to have expressed interest in the 20-year-old midfielder. No English teams have yet to express formal interest, that includes Everton, the team that came close to signing Szetela before he chose MLS four years ago.

Another surprising absence among the interested parties is MLS itself. The league has yet to approach Szetela about a new contract, a rare situation for a U.S. youth national team player. Part of the reason for a lack of interest in re-signing Szetela is Crew coach Sigi Schmid's less than enthusiastic belief in Szetela as a serious prospect worth the kind of money he would be seeking. Schmid most telling statement came a few months ago when he told me "Danny could wind up in Europe, he could wind up in the A-League," when asked about what the U-20 World Cup meant for Szetela.

I'll keep you posted as new teams join the list of clubs interested in Szetela. There will be plenty of eyes watching the U.S. team's next two matches, against Poland and Brazil, so you could see that list grow considerably if he can put together some solid performances.

Comments

[tex]

Interesting that he's not good enough to play in MLS but may go elsewhere. People love potential.

[JD]

What's the story with Sigi? Way to bolster the confidence of a young player Big Man.

[Ronald]

Sigi is probably just annoyed with his work rate. It's a well known fact in the MLS that Danny is a lazy player.

[Drew Brown]

Can we send Sigi Schmid to the A-League (aka USL1)? That league seems to have very few players still with potential of making it big. This way Sigi is as far away from our future National Team players as possible.

[Andrew]

Interesting. I don't see it. On an underperforming team against S Korea, Szetela was about the worst.

I guess there are moments where he shows potential. Maybe he is still reeling from not landing with the Metros. I hope Europe will bring out the best in him (and Rongen before that).

[Paul Lorinczi]

I read somewhere today that he will not even start against Poland

[Paul Lorinczi]

It was McIntyre's column on Soccernet today:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=442907&root=world&cc=5901

[nathan3e]

I am sure I do not understand the Szetela enthusiasm, so perhaps someone out there can make a compelling case. He can’t get a game for the Columbus Crew. His coach thinks he may end up in the USL. He scores a goal against South Korea and now Galatasaray and Rangers are calling? Do even the most ardent Szetela supporters believe he can deal with an Istanbul or Old Firm derby without soiling himself?

[inkedAG]

While I don't think much of him as a player, if he can get out...let him go!

[Joamiq]

Clearly, we all find this perplexing... let's hope he gets signed before they watch him play another game.

[smokeminside]

OT, folks, but are th u20 games available on-line? Forgive me if I missed a link...
Thanks!

[Braden]

Any European interest is good news for Szetela, because I don't think Columbus is doing much for him. It seems to have become the club for second-rate national team prospects. If the European clubs see something in him perhaps this will be the spark to get him to perform at a higher level.

I'm really annoyed I'm missing theses U-20 games! ESPNU... give me a break!

[Joamiq]

Oh man, my normal online source doesn't seem to be showing the Poland game today! Dammit!

[L]

He's good enough to play in the MLS. It's just that he got stuck in the black hole called Ohio.

[Ives]

Nathan, he won't be signing to join the first team of the clubs mentioned. He would be signed as a prospect who gets a chance on the reserve team level. He is still just 20 so clubs see someone they can invest some time in and coach.

[nathan3e]

Reserve team contract offers make a good deal more sense than first team offers, but the quotes I see from Szetela and the people around him lead me to believe that they think first team European football is inevitable. It’s not.

[Ives]

What quotes are you talking about exactly Nathan? First off, it wouldn't be a "reserve team" contract, this isn't MLS we're talking about. When Szetela does sign it will be for significantly more than he makes now in MLS. Whether or not he starts out on the reserve team at the club he signs with won't determine how much money he makes. You must remember that there will be no transfer fee involved to sign him so teams realize the bargain in that and will gladly pay him a nice contract since he is a free agent and can pick his next club.

Ultimately, he just needs to go a better environment where he's going to play consistently, be it reserve matches or first team matches. Yes, MLS has a reserve league now but the number of games they play is still nowhere near enough and the quality of play in the reserve division is extremely weak.

If anyone is saying he's going to step in and start at Parma or Rangers is crazy. He will need time to develop and gain some match experience on the reserve level. Could he wind up a starter in Europe? I still think he can.

[Tony M]

I'm guessing people are feeling a bit more positive about Danny at the moment...

[metroflip73]

Stupid move by the league if they don't re-sign him. I think it would be good for him to move to Europe, after this tournament and good showings in the 1st rd, he deserves a shot.