With cameras and familiar faces focused on Carlos Vela yet again, the 35-year-old Mexican’s first words following a months-long hiatus from the Los Angeles Football Club highlighted something he didn’t miss about the game.
As much as he enjoyed making up for lost time with his family as an unsigned free agent who didn’t need to deal with being a high-profile soccer player, the glare of the media from his teenage years up through Wednesday’s press conference at BMO Stadium wasn’t going to stop him from experiencing something he felt he couldn’t miss, namely closing the book on his career and influential arc in L.A. in a celebratory way.
“Of course, time off feels weird and different, but when you can enjoy time with your family that the soccer sacrifice takes away from you, it’s hard to come back,” Vela said. “In my case, my family gave me the push I needed to return, and we said let’s try it and enjoy it. The return wasn’t necessary just to come play, but to finish the journey that I have started.”
Money was the main reason that Vela, whom LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said “over-delivered on very lofty expectations,” had not returned earlier.
When talks began not long after LAFC lost the MLS Cup final in Columbus in December, the club’s first player and all-everything for six years was unwilling to sign for a significant pay cut.
Failing to convince the only MLS team he ever played for to up the ante, Vela stepped away. He was never too far, though. Both sides admittedly felt frustration as the months came and went, but neither reached a point where Vela was estranged from his friends and teammates still wearing black and gold.
“There is some proof in the fact that we did not do our goodbye, like we normally do with a player, and so we were always hopeful that this day would happen,” Thorrington said.
“There should not be this perception that there was some drag-out fight here,” he added. “I think it was, ‘This is what we’re able to do. This is how we see things.’ And Carlos was the same. It was never contentious. We did this over meals and sitting down and we just unfortunately could not find that common ground until last week.”
That was because a drop-dead date, Major League Soccer’s 30-man roster freeze, was set to go into effect at 5:30 p.m. last Friday.
The bulk of the ultimately successful negotiation, which netted out a low-cost deal through the end of 2024 with a club option for 2025, was finalized from Monday to Wednesday; signatures didn’t come until a few hours before the deadline.
Days later, Vela was back at the club’s performance center on the campus of Cal State L.A., shaking off the cobwebs ahead of what he promised would be a full-fledged effort to find his game, get in shape and contribute however the team needed.
“The most important thing in the end is to be clear and really realistic, to say I can do it,” Vela said regarding his on-field expectations for the remainder of the season. “Not just to finish in the games. I want to play good. I want to play well. I will try my best, of course. I’m getting back slowly from the first days. But I think next week I will have more of an idea of how long it will take to be back. I will try to be as soon as possible for my teammates and for this team to have success and win again.”
Looking ahead to the option on Vela for 2025, Thorrington said it hinges on an “ongoing conversation with Carlos, and in this instance, contrary to unfortunately at the beginning of this year, I don’t see any possibility that we’re not going to be aligned.”
When Vela was asked if he was hopeful and excited about the possibility of playing with Antoine Griezmann, a good friend and former teammate in Spain who is likely to join LAFC next year, “El Rey” smiled and said the French star “should be excited to play with me.”
Mr. Roster Freeze
Vela’s late addition locked in the group that LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo will have at his disposal for seven more regular-season games, next Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final, and the upcoming playoff push that could culminate in a third consecutive trip to MLS Cup final.
Thorrington sees no reason not to be optimistic about the team’s ability to win big games moving forward.
In mid-August, MLS announced how the league’s 29 clubs opted to construct their roster – a component of the roster rule enhancements announced in July with the intention of giving front offices more creative control over how discretionary funds are spent.
Opting for the U22 Initiative Model over the Designated Player Model, LAFC exchanged one DP roster slot, buying down Eduard Atuesta to do so, in exchange for up to an extra $1 million in general allocation money.
“For us the way we looked at our roster – obviously the new rules introduced some flexibility into how we can do it – and we did make a hard push to get a third senior DP if we felt like somebody would have made us better,” Thorrington said.
The extra funds were helpful in bringing Vela back into the fold – as were the proceeds from the sale of Mamadou Fall to FC Barcelona – along with Brazilian center back Marlon.
After he secures a P1 visa, Marlon should arrive by the end of next week. His addition was the result of Jesus Murillo’s MCL injury in the Leagues Cup final Aug. 25. Murillo did not require surgery and is a few weeks away from rejoining the team.
Next up
The rapid-fire schedule sends LAFC (14-7-7, 49 points) to Dallas (9-13-7, 34 points) on Saturday for a second consecutive game against a Texan side that is currently beneath the playoff line.
Related Articles
LAFC ties Austin FC but misses chance to gain more ground
Carlos Vela could give LAFC big boost down the stretch
LAFC re-signs superstar Carlos Vela
Alexander: Did Galaxy’s rally to beat LAFC send a message?
Despite El Trafico loss, LAFC lifted up by expected return of Carlos Vela
After drawing Austin 1-1 following Vela’s press conference, LAFC must travel days before their next opportunity to lift a trophy, the U.S. Open Cup at home against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday.
Not tempted to prioritize the Open Cup, Cherundolo said LAFC intends to put its best foot forward as they go for win No. 2 against Dallas this season.
“Once that game is played,” Cherundolo said, “all of our focus and energy will be on Kansas City.”
LAFC AT FC DALLAS
When: 5:39 p.m. PT Saturday
Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
TV/radio: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)/710 AM, ESPN LA App, 980 AM