LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena has confirmed the club’s signing of Giovani dos Santos from Villarreal.
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Jun 27, 2015; Orlando, FL, United States of America; Mexico forward Giovani dos Santos (10) reacts after he kicks the ball against Costa Rica during the second half at Orlando Citrus Bowl. Dos Santos has a knack for goals on the big stage – he scored against Holland in last year’s World Cup.
Dos Santos, who represented his country at the World Cup in 2010 and 2014, is a versatile player who can be used as an attacking midfielder or on the wing. Internationally, Dos Santos is one of Mexico’s most accomplished players, earning his first cap in 2006.
Dos Santos is expected to join up with the Galaxy in early August after the Gold Cup.
“We are committed to assembling the best roster that will compete for championships year in and year out”, said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “The hard-core Mexican soccer fan has been reluctant to fully embrace the MLS and the Galaxy”, said Mario Flores, founder of Sportivo, a public relations/marketing firm specializing in the Latino community.
The deal is a reunion for Keane and dos Santos, who were teammates with Tottenham Hotspur.
Under new rules adopted by MLS, the Galaxy were able to free up USA national team defender Omar Gonzalez, formerly a designated player, by using “targeted allocation money” to lower the salary threshold. He moved to Tottenham in 2008 and subsequently went on loan several times, never finding a consistent home in Europe.
“I think he is going to be a superstar in this league”, Keane said. Dos Santos is the biggest Mexican star to join MLS since Rafa Marquez signed with the New York Red Bulls in 2010.
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Dos Santos, 26, is from Monterrey, Mexico, and although young, has already put together a pretty impressive resume.
