Mutatu Could Be Back Soon At LA Galaxy
Zimbabwe international forward Farai Mutatu is still waiting on his international clearance to begin his career at Major League Soccer giants LA Galaxy, but could return with the first team in the coming transfer window.
The 22-year-old MLS 2022 Superdraft pick, made a positive impression during LA Galaxy preseason training in January and was offered a contract with the first team in March after impressing coach Craig Vanney.
The winger who is now designated as an international player is waiting for paperwork to be completed so he can continue his career at LA Galaxy.
The Zimbabwean is hopeful he will be granted a clearance in the coming transfer window as that would finally allow him to kick start his professional career in the Major League Soccer.
Each MLS team is given the right to have eight international players on its roster.
In 2022, a total of 224 international roster slots were divided among the 28 clubs. These roster slots are tradable, in full season increments, such that some clubs may have more than eight and some clubs may have less than eight during any given season.
With trades, there is no limit on the number of international roster slots on each club’s roster.
LA Galaxy brought in Douglas Costa toward the end of the primary tranfer window in February thereby exhausting all their nine international slots, leaving Mutatu who had to go through visa processing to wait for the next transfer window to acquire his international clearance.
The talented forward is currently training separately away from the Galaxy and is eager to rejoin the team soon.
Only Mutatu receiving a green card or a intraleague trade would allow the Galaxy to add him to the roster. But that can happen after the 7th of July to the 4th of August when the Secondary transfer window opens in the MLS season.
Regardless of that, Mutatu is only allowed to train until there’s an opening on their international slots.
The Zimbabwean has been Impressive during the team’s preseason training scoring three goals and one assist.
Vanney has raved about him in the press conferences – crediting his conditioning after winning the beep test. “He didn’t only win it, he blew everyone away” the coach would say. Vanney noted that he would keep watching how Mutatu continues to adapt in games.
Mutatu is very skillfull and a playmaker on his own. The attacker is versatile and can play many different positions on the offensive front.
With Galaxy failing to leave up to expectations, while currently laying on eigth position on the log with 23 points from 14 games, Vanney will be looking ahead to tinker with his squad in the next transfer and hopefully bringing in the talented Mutatu who has been itching to make his mark in the team.
MLS clubs have until the 2nd of September to submit their final 30-man roster for the season.
