At some level it might always be difficult to understand Christian Gomez’s departure from D.C. United. But United players needn’t focus on the why when they face him for the first time Sunday in Colorado.
Instead, they’ve simply got to stop their former teammate, who was a three-time Major League Soccer All-Star and MLS’ most valuable player in 2006.
“He was a great guy, a great player, but unfortunately you’ve got to make decisions in life,” said United forward Jaime Moreno. “I don’t know whose decision it was, but we wish him all the best.”
Gomez, 33, who earned $218,000 in 2007, was unable to come to terms on a new contract with United during the offseason. Leaving with 43 goals and 30 assists in 108 regular-season and playoff games, he was traded to the Rapids for a 2009 first-round draft pick and future considerations.
Gomez will earn $430,000 this season — $1.4 million less than his countryman and replacement, 32-year-old Marcelo Gallardo, who also has 44 more appearances with the Argentine national team than Gomez (zero). But the two players’ importance to their respective teams is similar.
“I’m happy to be compared to a player like that, especially if it’s favorable for me,” said Gomez via an interpreter. “I’ve had success in MLS, and Gallardo has come to MLS, so the comparison is going to be made.”
So far in 2008, Gallardo has scored twice while Gomez has one goal and one assist.
