Report: Landon Donovan offered contract by Real Salt Lake
Landon Donovan might embody the SoCal culture, but the greatest player in the history of the United States men's national team is reportedly weighing the option of playing below snow-capped peaks.
According to Julie Stewart-Binks of ESPN and FOX Sports West, Donovan was offered a contract by Real Salt Lake as well as a club from Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference. ESPN FC says Real Salt Lake had "exploratory discussions" about the USMNT's leading scorer continuing his MLS career in Utah in 2017, while FOX Sports' Ryan Rosenblatt claims the player is yet to make a decision on his future.
Donovan came out of retirement in September, returning to the Los Angeles Galaxy and making nine appearances, including three in the club's run to the Conference Semifinals of the 2016 MLS Playoffs. The 34-year-old also scored at Sporting Kansas City, adding to his record tally of 145 MLS goals.
At the end of the season, Donovan provided no confirmation of what his future had in store. But Chris Klein, the Galaxy's president, suggested the club's all-time leading scorer would return to retirement.
"With Landon, when he came back, it was always going to be a short-term thing," Klein said, according to the Los Angeles Times' Chris Klein.