WVHooligan - Soccer Blog

By now most of you probably know of LA Galaxy striker and US National team captain Landon Donovan’s interest in moving back across the pond again. He told reporters yesterday that his itch for playing in one of Europe’s top leagues, like England, has starting itching more recently.

“Competitively I have that itch to go test it,” Donovan said of moving to Europe. “And now, as opposed to when I was younger, I feel like I’m ready. Physically I’m ready, mentally, psychologically I’m ready. I know I could handle it, so now I’m having that itch to go try it again.

“When i was younger, I admittedly wasn’t ready.”

A little back story for those who don’t remember or just started to follow the MLS game. Donovan had two prior European tries with German club Bayern Leverkusen. Both tries with the German side were failed attempts by Donovan, which saw him immediately return to the States to play in MLS.

“That could still be a long way away,” said Donovan. “That’s a hope, that at some point it happens.

“That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen,” Donovan said. “If it doesn’t happen the I’ll be fine. It’s not like I have some pressing need, but it would fun at some point.”

Donovan does have a few worries like with his wife Bianca Kajlich, who is staring in a sitcom on CBS. A move across the pond would be tough for the young married couple because it could be tough for her to find work outside of LA (at least some reporters say…good Lord have they see Bianca, she’s smokin’ hot).

“Here and now is what I worry about,” said Donovan about going abroad. “Someday, if there’s a chance, then it’s possible. But for a lot of reasons, my family situation, my contract situation, I’m not going anywhere for a while. But maybe someday.”

“I think about getting through this year and finding a way to be good this year,” Donovan said. “Then if an opportunity comes, where something happens, whether it be next year, the year after, the year after, or maybe never, then we’ll cross that bridge. But I don’t go home and think, ‘When can I go play in Europe?’ If it happens, it will happen.”

To me it mainly just sounds like Donovan is just flirting with the idea of playing in Europe again. I could see him try it one more time, possibly after the next World Cup if things go well for the US and for him in that tournament.

What do you make of these comments? Sound like a player who is actively trying to leave or someone who is just pondering outloud the idea of going overseas again?