More Confed Cup Fallout: Gooch Signs With A.C. Milan
Soccer, World Cup July 7th. 2009, 11:45am
The envisioned windfalls for the United States’ surprising performance at the Confederations Cup have begun. American defender Oguchi Onyewu, 27, signed a three-year contract with Italian giants A.C. Milan. He moves for free, since his contract had expired with Standard Liege.
Onyewu was known before the tournament. One of the best players in the Belgian league, he had been linked with many Premier League clubs, Paris St. German and Marseilles in France, and even Real Madrid. Two years ago, he spent half a season on loan with then Premier League club Newcastle United.
Gooch will become the third American playing in Italy and the only one at Serie A level. He will be the first American to play in Serie A since Alexi Lalas’ stint at Padova from 1994 to 1996.
His signing is more practical than heralded for AC Milan. Despite the $94 million influx for Kaka, Milan still have debt. Onyewu was good, available for free, and, importantly, he has a Belgian passport, meaning Milan did not need to count him as one of their two permitted non-EU acquisitions.
Onyewu will start as a backup. Milan signed Brazilian Thiago Silva from Fluminese. They also have four-time Serie A Defender of the Year Alessandro Nesta and longtime first-teamer Kakha Kaladze. Though, those two played a combined 12 matches last season with injuries, so Onyewu probably will see significant time.
He may have played more at other clubs, but those other clubs are not A.C. Milan.
10 Responses to “More Confed Cup Fallout: Gooch Signs With A.C. Milan”
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July 7th, 2009 at 12:02 PM
duffy,
dunno if you were around last night but I posted on how much the confed cup helped out the US players in terms of value and transfers. I don’t think Gooch is real madrid material, but given the state of AC Milan’s defense, their ineptitute in the aerial game, and the big forwards in the italian league, I think he’ll fit in nicely. I do worry about him being exposed one on one though. I see him starting a large number of games. Nesta is a lock, but Kaladze is on the wrong side of 30 and has had some knocks. I see gooch being equally as impactful as Silva, though I think it will take Gooch some time to get acclimated to the Italian game. Let’s get Davies signed by Sochaux, and maybe Rico to Rennes and I’ll be happy.
I read an excerpt of an article that said something along the lines of “Milan hopes that this signing will ease the supporters who were upset with lack of activity in the transfer market”. Gooch certainly has come a long way, hasn’t he.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:06 PM
gooch sucks
July 7th, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Gooch can expect countless flops while defending in Serie A.
Personally, I don’t think he’s all that good. But congrats to him, I would love to crush Italian* chicks for a year or two.
*not New Jersey Italians
July 7th, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I did not know this …he is a dual national with Belgium then as well. I wonder how and for how long too.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Paolo,
I’m not sure, but I believe this was a case of “lets get him citizenship so he doesn’t count against our non EU roster spots” as his parents came to the US from Nigeria I believe.
gooch isn’t a great technical back, he’s not going to get forward, he’s not going to dribble out of the back or ping balls around, but he’ll clean up messes in the box, he’ll win every ball in the air, and he’s a handful to defend on set pieces. He’s also gotten much better at defending without using his hands, which he’ll need in Italy. I’m excited that perhaps his distribution and confidence on the ball will improve where he doesn’t clear any and everything out of the box but tries to get it to a midfielder.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:27 PM
I’d rather he be on a team where he gets more playing time.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Belgium has relatively lax immigration requirements. So a player who has played there for 2-3 seasons can apply for citizenship and count as an EU national. That’s why Onyewu has it.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Thiago Silva plays in Serie A during his time between UFC fights? Impressive
July 7th, 2009 at 12:46 PM
heldover,
I agree in principle, but I dont think this will be a situation where he’s lucky to make the game day team. Milan will have CL, Serie A, and the Italian cup. With the now three CB’s they have I don’t think he’ll have much trouble getting playing time. Hopefully even training will improve his touch and one on one skills since it will be head and shoudlers better than Standard.
July 7th, 2009 at 12:52 PM
The confed cup was a convergence of many things: US reaching a critical mass of talented players to succeed even with expected injuries, strong play in the smaller leagues, timing with the transfer market, timing with WC qualifiers allowing more players to look sharp, etc. It could be one of the clear step-wise functions in the broader development and health of US soccer