Dos Santos given another chance at Club America
Football is benevolent with peculiar characters. Some of them grew up with a star on their forehead, called to be the next heroes. But instead, they spent their careers as nomads, looking for a place to fit in.
Giovani Dos Santos had many chances to become the player that he was expected to be. However, the footballer lifestyle seduced him more than a successful career. Giovani’s intermittent path began with the unfortunate decisions of his agent — and parent — Zizinho. Then, it escalated to personal performances. Spain, England and Turkey were stops on Dos Santos’ journey until MLS knocked the door. America offered him a multi-million contract and the opportunity to be the face of the LA Galaxy project. Nevertheless, Giovani heard the sirens’ song and fell for the lifestyle, forgetting entirely about soccer.
LA Galaxy released Dos Santos before the expiration of his contract. The pitiful level showed by the former Mexican international left no option to the club; it was a $6 million outlay. Dos Santos played one-third of the 2018 MLS season. But the kindness of football gave him another chance, in another league.
After 280 days more without playing an official football match, the Liga MX’s most popular team, Club America, decided to sign Giovani for two years with a sweet deal. Multiple Mexican media outlets reported a $3 million contract as the base salary, a quantity that can increase with stipulated bonuses for minutes played, assists and discipline. In the last four years, Giovani’s club and national team appearances showed an evident decline in his level. He has not been in a competitive rhythm, something already seen at the 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup.
The benevolence of football is granting Dos Santos another opportunity, in a more demanding league, with more demanding objectives. At age 30, Giovani arrives in Mexico at his worst professional level. After a hiatus of almost one year caused by his indifference, Dos Santos got an attractive contract mostly granted by his past with El Tri, not by the recent events in MLS. He will re-encounter Miguel Herrera, Mexico’s 2014 World Cup manager, and the last man who got the best drops of football out of him.
However, the talking point stands with the nostalgic idea of Dos Santos’s fulfillment. The public opinion hopes to see the brightness of a charismatic young boy that emerged from FC Barcelona’s academy who was destined to succeed, something that probably will never happen.
Follow Luis on Twitter: @LFulloa.
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