Alejandro Bedoya eyes eventual MLS move after two close calls
U.S. men's national team midfielder Alejandro Bedoya has had two potential moves to MLS fall through in the last year, but that doesn't mean the league is off his radar.
The 28-year-old Bedoya, whose club FC Nantes is just three points off a UEFA Champions League place in Ligue 1, told SI's Grant Wahl on the Planet Fútbol Podcast that he'd like to "eventually" play in the league, with the lure of having his 1-year-old son grow up in the United States playing a role. Bedoya was in talks with the Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids, but neither move materialized.
"Last summer was the first time that I actually really had close, ongoing talks with MLS," Bedoya said. "First it was Philly, it got pretty far, but then obviously it takes three parties [MLS, the two clubs involved] to agree on everything. I wasn't totally ready to jump, and the club [Nantes] was not ready to let me go at all. So those talks didn't pan out. And then the Colorado move was actually I think a little bit closer to happening, but once again the club [Nantes] decided against it and couldn't agree on a fee and everything.
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"I have no regrets about anything that's happened, it's all part of the process. Obviously when that happened I was able to just focus again on soccer and I've been in great form ever since late December."
Bedoya had a span of four goals in six games, including a pair of key late winners in the Coupe de France, over the winter.
"I'm happy here, but at the same time I'm not going to lie and say that I have no interest in going back to MLS, because it's there," Bedoya added. "I'd like to eventually play in MLS. And with the birth of my son and everything I would love to have him grow up in the States where I grew up and be able to play in front of my family and friends a lot more than I have.
"I've been in Europe nine years now, and I've had a great experience. I'm still ambitious, I hope I can get to maybe another level, but at the same time the States is ... I'm thinking about going back to the States eventually, and I'd like to be a part of MLS, which is growing at an awesome pace. I enjoy watching it here on Eurosport in France."
Could a move materialize as soon as this summer?
"I think it's still up in the air, but there's a possibility maybe," Bedoya said. "I wouldn't say there's zero chance. But we'll see what happens. I'm sure we'll sit down this summer after the season is over and see what my options are and the possibilities that are out there. But for now I hope we can finish the season here strong and finish, I hope, top six, which could maybe guarantee a place in European football, which would be great for the club."
Bedoya's interview begins at the 9:05 mark of the podcast, with his MLS comments coming at 23:10.
