Jozy Altidore Heading to Spain. But Not to Madrid.

By: Laurie | June 5th, 2008

It hasn’t been a secret that eighteen-year-old Jozy Altidore, last year’s New York Red Bulls’ phenom, has been looking towards Europe. There was even a quiet near-transfer to the now-relegated English team Reading in January, but that didn’t go through. The team most frequently mentioned since then has been Real Madrid.

A Spanish move is now official. Or, if not officially official, (since the European transfer window doesn’t open till July 1), at least a poorly-kept secret. According to “sources close to the deal,” Jozy is going to Spain. But rather than Real Madrid, he’ll be heading to Villareal for an MLS record transfer fee of around $10 million.

Wednesday’s news that MLS had reached an agreement to sell him to Villarreal for a U.S. and MLS record transfer of around $10 million, which includes performance-based bonuses but does not include a clause that would provide MLS more money based on any future sale of Altidore to another club (per a source close to the deal).

Even if Altidore does get loaned by Villarreal to Recreativo Huelva, as has been reported in the Spanish media, the chance to play in La Liga is a golden one for the 18-year-old U.S. striker — and a more attractive option than playing for Reading in the Premier League would have been had MLS accepted that offer a few months ago.

Villareal finished second in La Liga this year, so it’s not much of a step down. Villareal may not be the international marketing brand that Real Madrid is, but their football is solid, and there are much worse places for a young player to learn the trade than La Liga.

As mentioned in the quote above, there are rumors in the Spanish press that he will be loaned out in the upcoming season to sixteenth-place La Liga team Recrativo Huelva. For an MLS player, this is probably a good thing. The road is littered with the carcasses of starry-eyed players from around the world — not just MLS — who went to huge clubs in Europe and then saw their skills atrophy because they rarely saw playing time. And Jozy’s play this season hasn’t come close to what he showed the world he was capable of last year.

It will probably be a good thing for him to take some time to settle down and refocus before, with luck, jumping into the European big time.

So what does this mean for US Soccer? The blog From College to the Pros has some thoughts:

Way to go Jozy, you’re a man now. Make sure you work hard and convince your new club that you were worth it. Work hard, learn something and bring it to the US National team. When you’re getting too old for European football bring your skills back to MLS to teach the next generation. We’re proud of you.

Buena suerte, Jozy Altidore.