CARSON, Calif. — Landon Donovan has a quick and decisive response to reports linking him to Serie A club AS Roma.
“Don’t waste my time with that,” he said after training Thursday when asked about the rumored move.
Incoming Roma president Thomas DiBenedetto told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday that he would like to bring Americans into the mix with the club, and Donovan’s name was one of the first mentioned. DiBenedetto even quoted a price — $14 million — that he’d put aside for the Galaxy captain.
But such supposed interest outside of MLS has become a norm for Donovan during his career. Just weeks before the Roma story broke, Donovan’s name came up with Monterrey, whose own officials were bantering him around as a possible reinforcement as the CONCACAF champs ready for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December. Club América were also reportedly interested in Donovan in 2009.
The US national team star’s name has been linked to a variety of other clubs over the years on at least two continents. So when a new report came up, it was hardly surprising to Galaxy officials.
“I'm sure it goes with all of the other reports we've had over the last four or five years,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. “Not one of these reports have ever been accurate.”
Donovan enters Saturday’s match against Chivas USA (10 pm ET/ 7pm PT, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes) as the league’s fourth all-time leading goal-scorer, with his 110 regular-season goals just four behind former Chivas star Ante Razov. Donovan needs 22 to catch Jaime Moreno’s league-record total, and might need more still if Columbus forward Jeff Cunningham, sitting on 131, adds to his own totals.
The way Arena sees it, Donovan will have the chance to chase the two frontrunners.
“I'll give you the same answer every time,” Arena said. “We've always told you that Landon is with the Galaxy, that he's is going to be with the Galaxy.”
