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Everyone Benefits From Peguero Sale

Departure of Top Scorer Is An Unpopular, But Necessary Move

John Simpson · July 28, 2006

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (MNN) - While the sale of Jean Philippe Peguero to Danish club Brøndby was not followed by massive protests and treats of boycotts, quite a few Red Bulls fans are upset with the forward's departure.

On the surface, it's an understandable frustration. The team struggled to do anything right for the majority of the season. Now that the team is enjoying a three-game winning streak and has risen to 3rd place in the conference, it seems unfair that the leading scorer has been shipped out rather hastily and unceremoniously.

Despite appearances, the reality is it's a good deal for everyone involved.

For Peguero, it means two things. First is a raise in pay. He was earning reportedly $70,000 a year in Major League Soccer and figures to make quite a bit more than that amount overseas. Second, Brøndby is currently competing in the UEFA Cup. While comparisons of the level of play between Denmark and MLS can be debated, Peguero now has a chance to play against some world-famous clubs, such as Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayer Leverkusen, and current holders Sevilla.

Some reports have stated Peguero was happy in MLS and didn't want to leave. If that were the case, he'd still be with the team. The transfer required him to negotiate a contract with Brøndby. If he wanted to stay, he simply could have refused to sign a new contract and the transfer would have collapsed, allowing him to remain in New York.

And thoughg the team is losing its leading scorer, don't let that stat mislead you. During their current winning streak, Peguero hasn't scored. In fact, he hasn't provided a goal in the team's last 8 matches. Half of his goals came in a single game. "Leading Scorer" is a nice title, but he hasn't single-handedly carried this team on his back during their recent run.

In terms of the league, they made money. If the reports of an $800,000 transfer fee are close to accurate, it's probably more than the league ever figured they'd receive for Peguero back when he was traded to New York in April.

As the saying goes, every player has a price. This was equal, if not greater, to the price MLS had in mind for him and they took the offer.

Some point to this as proof that MLS is nothing more than a feeder league. This is such a tiresome argument.

Every single team in world soccer buys and sells players. Players go from smaller leagues to bigger leagues, bigger to smaller and between leagues of the same size. It's like the stock market. Buy low. Sell high.

Manchester United paid 20 million pounds for Wayne Rooney. If Real Madrid comes in and offers them 100 million pounds, Man U's management would be telling the young Englishman his flight to Spain leaves tomorrow. It doesn't matter that some consider him the best player of his generation. Every player has a price.

Last up is the team and what the Red Bulls get is flexibility. With Bruce Arena coming aboard, he's already stated he has a philosophy on how to build a franchise. In order to do that, he'll need room to maneuver in terms of the roster.

Arena is smart enough to see what many fans have already been stating: Peguero and Edson Buddle are too similar in terms of playing style. So if the opportunity to move one comes along, it makes sense to take it. An opportunity came along in the form of Brøndby, so they took it.

Don't believe thoughts that the team had no say in if Peguero stayed or not. Especially with a coach with the stature of Arena. If he wanted Peguero to stay badly enough, there's little doubt the forward would be with the team.

The league may be in charge of transfers, but the head coaches have a voice in the matter. If they didn't, MLS would struggle to find anyone willing to work under those circumstances.

It's never enjoyable when a popular player leaves a club, but Peguero's departure doesn't mean the rest of the season will go down in flames. At the very least, fans should wait and see how things pan out before passing judgment on the deal.

[Demorgan]

it's always good to try your talent somewhereelse,after several years in the MLS it's time to explore the UEFA, to meet others great players,to play a different soccer,the clasic soccer.to me it's was up for him to play in Europe.I love the europeans leagues. Go Peguero.