Red Bulls GM Andy Roxburgh threw cold water on a potential Juan Pablo Angel return to New York, despite the Colombian striker and club icon practicing with the team on Friday.
“To be honest with you, we haven’t seriously thought about that, or even discussed that. He only came on the radar here yesterday when he came back,’’ Roxburgh said before tonight’s game against Vancouver. “He’s a smart boy, a good boy. He’s a top player, and he’s looking good; but that’s all we can say guys. There’s no story in that at this point.’’
Angel is still an icon among MetroStar/Red Bulls fans. He scored 58 goals for the team over a four-year span, including helping them to their only MLS Cup final appearance in 2008. He’s still a fan favorite, as much for his class off the field as his quality on it.
But after his unceremonious exit from the Red Bulls, he played with the Los Angeles Galaxy – under former Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena – and Chivas USA the past two years, and now he’s playing well and scoring for Nacional in his native Colombia. He has four goals in seven games so far this year, playing for – oddly enough – ex-Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osario, who led the team to that ’08 Cup final in Los Angeles.
Angel practicing with the Red Bulls on Friday – and his long-standing love of the area – sent their fans into a tizzy, some hoping for his return. And while the venerable Angel didn’t dismiss it out of hand Friday, it doesn’t sound likely.
“I’ve been joking with him. I actually said if you want I’ll speak to Mike (Petke). And of course he laughed and said “I wish.’ But he looks good. He’s in good condition,’’ said Roxburgh. “(But) he’s somebody else’s player at the moment. I think even in the brief conversation I had with him, he sees that as that’s where he started and he’s going back to his home place. And I think he sees that.’’
On Friday, Angel was quoted in BigAppleSoccer.com regarding a possible New York return “I don’t know. Right now I have a contract with Nacional. I’m enjoying my time greatly there. Who knows? They know my feelings about this place. I’ve only said that I have good memories and good words about how I was treated here. Hopefully tomorrow is a good game and I’m looking forward to being a spectator of a Red Bulls game.”