ไทย
English
中國人
Just days after Egypt national team technical director Ibrahim Hassan attempted to steer Mohamed Salah away from Major League Soccer as his next move, MLS commissioner Don Garber fired back with a strong defense of the league.
Salah's future following his expected departure from Liverpool has dominated headlines in recent days. Hassan publicly voiced his preference for the winger to remain in Europe, and even if no compelling offers materialize, he suggested the Saudi Pro League would be a preferable option over fading into obscurity in MLS.
Speaking with The Guardian, Garber pushed back against Hassan's remarks by pointing to MLS's greatest attraction: Lionel Messi.
"That's the first time I've ever heard anything like that," Garber said in response to Hassan's comments. "Leo Messi is the most popular footballer on the planet. He was, and he remains so. I'd gladly send an Apple subscription to the head of the Egyptian FA so he can watch as many Messi matches as he wants."
Don Garber on MLS's Struggle For Validation
While Garber admitted he hadn't come across Hassan's remarks before the interview, the broader sentiment behind the message was nothing new to him. For decades, MLS and American soccer as a whole have faced skepticism from across the Atlantic, despite the league's considerable growth in recent years.
"I think Hassan's perspective is very representative of what MLS continues to face as we grow into a serious contender on the global stage," Garber said. "I can recall, not too long ago, Mexican national team coaches saying: 'If you're playing in MLS, you won't be called up for our national team.' That's simply not the reality today.
"We constantly face this narrative that Americans will never truly understand the game, and that's just not accurate. I've been navigating this skepticism for 27 years. It hasn't stopped me, and it never will."
Garber makes a fair point: MLS has long been viewed as a lesser competition not just in Europe but throughout the Americas too. Shedding the "retirement league" label is no easy task, but Garber is equally correct that perceptions are gradually shifting.
The Undeniable Rise of MLS Could Reach New Heights With Salah
Garber has witnessed firsthand the remarkable ascent of MLS since taking over as commissioner in 1999. The arrival of world-class talent has been a key driver of the league's expansion, though significant strides have been made across numerous other areas as well.
"We have dozens of players [developed through MLS clubs] now competing in Europe," Garber said. "We have some of the finest players in the world playing here. Our facilities rank among the best when measured against any league globally. We have a national team coach [Mauricio Pochettino] who has operated at the highest level and believes in what MLS stands for."
For the first time ever, an MLS club has appeared in four consecutive Concacaf Champions Cup finals. MLS also contributed more players to the 2022 World Cup than any league outside Europe's top five. The league's decision to realign its calendar with the world's elite competitions beginning in 2027 was widely praised and could further sustain its upward trajectory.
Garber has already made clear his desire to see Salah compete in MLS. While nothing is close to confirmed, the Egyptian joining marquee names like Messi, Thomas Müller, Son Heung-min, Antoine Griezmann and James Rodriguez this summer would hardly represent a retreat from the global spotlight.