Soony Saad Signs w/ MLS
Goal.com reports that former Michigan standout forward Soony Saad has reportedly signed with MLS and his rights will be subject of a lottery process to be conducted on Tuesday.
Saad signs with MLS after leaving Michigan following the Wolverines' first run to College Cup last December. The former Michigan player signed with an agent and pursued professional opportunities in Europe after the college season. With no contract in hand, Saad returned to his home state of Michigan for a few months before signing the professional contract.
I'd love to see Soony in the Black and Red of DC United, but I'll take any team other than the Columbus Crew.
[5 July update: Sporting Kansas City won Saad's rights in the weighted lottery.]
I can't wait to see where he goes. Maybe this will actually give me an MLS team to root for.
Does anybody know for sure why he left after his freshman season? Yes, I understand he was great and has a bright future for sure, but from what I have read it's not generally encouraged to leave college early (especially after just one year!) just to end up in the MLS. Meram stayed four years and I believe most soccer players do unless they are going to end up in a good European League. I have also heard that grades were a big issue with him, but I have nothing to suggest this is anything but pure speculation. I wish Soony all the best, but I really wish he would have stayed.
Coming out of high school and he proved he deserved it in college. What else could he prove in college? What else could he do to raise his stock?
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<br>Not much.
I heard rumors from some people that he had grade issues, but I dont know that for sure. I think the main reason he left was because he thought he had a legit shot at getting a contract with a big club in Europe. I believe he was in talks with Bayern Munich and Anderlecht plus a couple more that I can't remember
This is exactly what I heard as well. He is 18 or 19 years old, he clearly has a lot more that he could have learned at the college level. I think he got a little bit of a big head and thought he could just walk in to some big club team in Europe and get signed and it didn't happen. Now he'll toil in the MLS til he further proves himself.
college soccer is not like football and basketball in that it is the main feeder for its signature pro leagues. if he wanted to pursue his ambition of playing in europe, now was the time to leave.
sad for us michigan fans since he was such a lights out player but i think he made the best decision for himself.
only in the US do soccer prospects that actually have a future go to college. good to elite prospects all join a professional team academy by the age of approximately 14 in most but not all countries.
even joining the MLS is a positive move for him at this stage in his career. in soccer, the clock starts ticking for a professional player to start delivering significantly earlier than in football, basketball, etc..
best wishes to you soony.
He had grade issues, it was no speculation. Part of his grade issues involved the fact that he never really planned on sticking around so he didn't bother but he would have most likely been academically ineligible anyways. I met him once but knew some people that were pretty close with him and he wasn't secretive about not giving a shit about school.
I hope the Revs get him. The Revs could use some quality up front. Him and Feilhaber would be a good one two combo.
I think the Timbers would take him in a heartbeat. Our forwards haven't scored since the end of May and are mostly out there for show. There's no one on the bench to work with either.
RCTID.
Sad to see he didn't get a European contract, but on the plus side: he won't be banished to the bench a la Jozy Altidore.
In the MLS Saad can get quality PT against bad defenses, and maybe go the way of Charlie Davies, Clint Dempsey, and Stewie Holden by making the transition to Europe after success in the MLS.
There is nothing in the world I would love more than the US Soccer Team's best goalscoring threat to be a Wolverine. yes that's a long long time away but a man gotta have a dream.
I think MLS is perfect for Soony given his limited collegiate experience. Europe could be an option down the road - we'll see.
Bring him to the Red Bulls... would love to be able to see him play here.
...with the results of the weighted rights lottery.