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Jozy Altidore’s Rumored Transfer Could Save His Career

By @SamHader21

Getty Images

Getty Images

Jozy Altidore has not received regular first-team time, and his frustration and rumors of leaving are growing.

Speculation of him leaving has been omnipresent during Altidore’s disappointing time at Sunderland; he has only scored twice in 42 total appearances, and only alleviates the pain of Premier League play with international appearances for the United States Men’s National Team. He’s usually able to do well with the international side (25 goals and counting), and it’s the only thing keeping his career afloat.

Speculation also arises from a recent tweet he had involving the Los Angeles Galaxy. It seems as though another MLS club is pursuing an American international, as Altidore tweeted, “@LAGalaxy really? Stop blowing up my agents phone then. No means no.” He quickly deleted it, but in this day and age it’s hard to completely erase something, much less a tweet that calls out a club.

While it’s good that he (or at least his agent) is looking at offers from other clubs for first-team football, the Galaxy are not the club to go to, and he knows it. USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann has been adamant about players leaving the MLS and trying out Europe, saying that it will only reduce their quality of play. But if they go overseas and don’t get playing time, i.e. Altidore, what are they to do? That is the big question among critics of Klinsmann.

All that aside, rumors have been flying that Altidore could move to Lille OSC in France, Eden Hazard’s former club. They could use a big forward, and the imminent departure of Belgian international Divock Origi makes the club more desperate. Only one other forward has scored for Lille besides Origi, so depth is certainly needed for the club.

Seeing as though he is 25 years of age, Altidore should be playing at his peak. He’s been playing professionally for a long time, since he debuted at age 16, but if Altidore wants to rescue his career, he should prepare for a move to Lille.

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