He won’t admit it publicly but MLS ace Carlos Velas will be devastated by missing out on a chance to return back home to Spain to play for La Liga giants Barcelona.
Barca appear to have passed on Vela and pipped instead for Kevin-Prince Boateng, signed from Italian club Sassuolo, as a midseason replacement for forward Munir El Haddadi, who recently left for Sevilla.
Velas – pictured, above, by Football.com photographer Shaun Clark – was on the short-list to make a possible six-month loan move to join Messi, Suarez and co but it seems his chance has now gone.
The player’s disappointment will nevertheless come as a huge boost to Vela’s Los Angeles teammates and the new team’s fans after his electric first season in the league.
The 29-year-old Mexican forward was LAFC’s leader in both goals (14) and assists (13) last season in an MLS debut that made him an MVP finalist.
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