Jozy Altidore's European dream begins now.The New York Times is reporting that Spanish club Villareal has a reached an agreement with MLS and the New York Red Bulls to acquire Altidore for an MLS-record transfer fee of $10 million. The teenage striker has to pass a physical and work out contract terms with the club, but it appears he will not finish the season with the Red Bulls, who are currently five points behind Toronto for the last playoff spot in the Eastern division.
Villareal finished 2nd in La Liga last season and will go directly to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. However, it appears Altidore will not join the club on the European stage. Spanish newspaper Marca is reporting that Altidore will be loaned out to Recreativo de Huelva, who finished 16th in La Liga, for at least one season to give him immediate playing time. According to the ever-present Ives Galarcep, Villareal made the same move with Uruguayan defender Martín Cáceres, who was just sold to Barcelona for a profit of about $16 million.
So Jozy can experience something he would never see in America -- a relegation battle. That's just "too foreign" for MLS, of course.
Let's just hope this transfer doesn't give our boy too big a head. Those stories about him losing focus in Red Bulls practice were just a little troubling.
