Mario Gomez to MLS: How Likely Is It?

German international, Mario Gomez, was linked to several MLS clubs back in 2015. With his exit from Besiktas, how likely is he now to land in the States?

With European giants entering pre-season, transfers from all over the globe are either heating up or coming to fruition. One involves German international Mario Gomez and his exit from his current loan club, Besiktas.

The 31-year-old striker took to his Facebook account to express his wish to leave the Turkish club strictly due to the political tension arising from a failed coup to overthrow Turkish government in several populated cities around Turkey including Istanbul, where the football club is located.

He agreed to go out on loan to Besiktas from Italian side Fiorentina back in July 2015 on a season-long deal. Since his arrival in Turkey, he has scored 28 goals in 41 appearances for the club, a goals to game ratio of .68, and won the Turkish league with the club.

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A decision that was “very heavy” and “difficult“, Gomez described his feelings in his recent Facebook post accompanied with a photo of himself lifting the Turkish league trophy alongside his teammates. “There are no sporting  (reasons) or any other reasons that have made me make this decision. It is purely down to the terrible events that happened in the last few days. I hope you can understand that!” 

Rumors were circulating towards a move to the MLS following his 2014-2015 Serie A season with Fiorentina, which he helped them finish 4th in the league. According to Gazzetto dello Sport, he was linked with both New York teams back in 2015. The Italian newspaper now writes about the ongoing fight for German club Wolfsburg to secure his signature.

Gomez, who spent 10 years between VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich, declined a potential return to the German Bundesliga as his contract runs out in 2017. La Viola have offered to sell the striker for around €7 million but no less than 1 million even though, according to the article, Gomez would like to be sold for free.

Gomez seemed to have enjoyed the majority of his time in Turkey and would have most likely stayed given his form for Besiktas through his Instagram and other social media. His 3 years with Fiorentina weren’t as memorable, with 47 appearances and 14 goals.

He reached his best goalscoring form with Bayern in 2011-12 when he scored 41 goals in 52 games for the Bavarians. Seemingly looking for a new footballing experience, Gomez could look away from Italy or Germany for his career, of which Major League Soccer will suit the striker.

Either that or the Chinese Super League, with their monster high salaries for international stars like Ramires, Hulk, Graziano Pellè and Tim Cahill.

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Now with the summer transfer window going on and the future of Gomez’s time in Italy unknown as Fiorentina is expecting forwards Mauro Zárate, Giuseppe Rossi and Federico Bernardeschi to lead the charge going into next season, what truly IS the likelihood of a MLS move for the new German all-time UEFA EURO goalscorer? And if it were to happen, which team would suit him best?

It doesn’t seem to be happening. With no links to the MLS as of now, and nothing said towards a move away from Italy or towards Germany from press, Fiorentina or even Gomez’s agent Üli Ferber, we need to wait for to the coming weeks for any small hint of a potential move. At 31 and still lethal in front of goal, Gomez clearly still has gas in the tank and plenty of mileage.

The MLS has suited players like Villa, Pirlo, Kaká and Drogba well and could very much suit the attacker who flourishes as an aerial threat, can muscle through challenges and is a fine finisher with both feet. Squawka.com shows he scored 10 goals in the Turkish League and Europa League with his left, 11 with his right and 7 headers.

If a move to the MLS does happen though, a club such as Orlando or NYCFC could splash out the cash for another Designated Player. NYCFC more likely as they would now find a replacement for David Villa as players like Khiry Shelton and Tony Taylor have moved towards the wings and Patrick Mullins hasn’t seen much game time.

Orlando could use the heavy artillery, but would surely limit Canadian int’l Cyle Larin’s playing time. It would also look likely that a new club like Los Angeles FC would be willing to add a European star to their frontline. European clubs are still interested in the forward, given his price tag, so a move to the MLS might just be one for the future.