Jose Goncalves mulling quitting New England Revolution
Nov 2, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Revolution defender Jose Goncalves (23) during the first half of the eastern conference semifinals against Sporting KC at Gillette Stadium. The New England Revolution defeated Sporting KC 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
New England Revolution captain Jose Goncalves is thinking about quitting the club, according to an interview from A Minute In Sports.
“I was on loan last year,” Goncalves said in the interview. “It is a difficult situation and you never know where you are going to end. That it would develop so good for me and the team and that I would feel so comfortable was not sure before last year.
“But my family is in Europe and I need a plan for my future life, definitely. I am also fighting for a spot in the [Portuguese] national team and that has always been my goal. After the MLS season ended last year, there have been a lot of discussions and meetings with the Revs… a lot of promises have been made, but nothing came at the end and the club also gave me the feeling that I am easy to replace, so for me it is a very simple answer and that’s it.”
According to NE Soccer Today’s Brian O’Connell, Goncalves is making no apologies for throwing the gauntlet down for the Revs front office to pick up.
“I don’t really need to say (what) kinds of promises have been made,” Goncalves said. “I think it’s something that stays between me and the club. Of course, they know exactly what I am talking about. It’s a situation we tried, in the past, to find a solution (to).
“It’s very important that I feel that I am welcome here. I am worth it, what I am doing on the field, and also outside the field. That’s something I take very personally, and it’s very important as a player, and as the captain of the club, to feel that.”
“We’re aware of the interview Jose conducted, and want to stress that he’s a valuable member of the Revolution,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “Jose is under contract with MLS and New England for multiple years, but having said that, we’ll continue to have dialogue with his representative regarding his contract.”
Despite the contract impasse, Goncalves is committed to the future of New England and is hoping to bring the club their first MLS Cup.
“I am here and I am training with the team, and when I am on the field I am very professional, I give my best, 100 percent, and what happens off the field, (stays) off the field,” Goncalves said. “I always bring to the training ground my (complete) focus, because there are teammates who are here to work hard and I always want to do the same and not mess up the training because I am not feeling very well (about the contract situation).
“Europe has always been (a goal of) my career,” Goncalves said. “I played there most of my career, my family is there, friends, and I know the league. I have a lot of goals in my career, like playing in the (Portuguese) National Team, and this is one of my biggest goals, and of course you have to have success in the club (first). This is something I was always thinking about, and we will see what happens.
“I think that, in the next few days, we will sit down and discuss the situation. But for now, I think that the most important thing is that the group gets back in training. When we find a time to speak about this, then we will do it.”