Swiss veteran Tranquillo Barnetta is currently a free agent, but has drawn interest from Philadelphia Union having left German side Schalke 04. As a result, it appears that the midfielder will be training with the Union and could potentially be signed if all goes to plan.
According to various sources including Taylor Twellman, Barnetta will be spending a week in Philadelphia to “assess his options” as there are two European teams also interested in securing his signature. Media in Switzerland name the European sides as Leicester City of the Premier League, and Real Betis in La Liga.
Barnetta may not be a household name for some fans, but here is some of the lowdown on him. He has been capped 75 times for Switzerland and was shortlisted for best young player at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He has been applauded for his hardworking style of play and creativity in equal measure, scoring twice against England in Euro 2012 qualifying. Both of those came directly from free-kicks adding another thing to his arsenal – impressive set-piece skills.
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The Swiss international is primarily a winger but can also play in a more central role. This versatility makes him an attractive option for any team. Hence why he has a number of options to choose from.
He joined Schalke in the German Bundesliga in 2012 but also spent a season on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt. Before Schalke he spent nine years at Bayer Leverkusen. However he has never played outside of Germany since his early seasons at St. Gallen. He has over 300 career Bundesliga appearances and has scored 45 times in German football as well as assisting countless others.
Therefore moving abroad is something new, and possibly quite a risk. But he could prove a great pickup if the Union do land him and beat off the two European teams they face competition with. He is only 30, and an experienced international who has been to three World Cups.
Not only would a move allow him to restart his career afresh, he would prove a great addition to the Philadelphia Union. They are aiming to push up the Eastern Conference, currently sitting seventh. Also in the US Open Cup semi-finals, signing a player of Barnetta’s quality is a real statement of intent.
For the league as a whole, more players are being linked with the league than ever before as the league becomes a more viable option than some mid-table European teams – seen here in the case of Tranquillo Barnetta.
So from Giovinco and Kaka to Sean St. Ledger and Liam Ridgewell, Major League Soccer is always expanding and can attract players from all over the world. Something all the top leagues in the world offer, showing that MLS is fast becoming ready to join their ranks.
For the Union however, it will be a big week to try out Barnetta and if they like what they see get a deal done before someone in Europe crashes the party.