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Could a pair of LA Galaxy academy products soon be heading to Germany? This Keith Costigan tweet has raised more than a few eyebrows.
Hearing Uly Llanez has agreed a deal to sign with Wolfsburg and Alex Mendez has agreed a deal with Freiburg. Both LA Galaxy Academy products who turned down good offers with the club to go to Germany
— keith costigan (@KeithCostigan) October 5, 2018
According to the veteran Fox Sports broadcaster, Ulysses Llanez (17) and Alex Mendez (18) have spurned first-team contract offers from LA, with both electing to head to the Bundesliga to further their careers.
The news is not entirely surprising but disappointing nonetheless. The U.S. U-20 internationals (along with Efrain Alvarez) make up the trio of exciting young talent the Galaxy academy have managed to cultivate. The idea of Llanez and Mendez leaving without the club receiving a dime of compensation for their development is tough to swallow.
Serious questions should be asked about the team’s approach to developing talent. Are the Galaxy giving enough first-team minutes to young stars? It’s certainly up for debate.
Many mysteries in US soccer these days but for me, 1 of the most puzzling is that Efra Alvarez, who's scoring bangers for Mexico's U-17 YNT & averaging nearly a goal per 90 minutes for their USL side, has publicly been ruled out of a spot on the LA Galaxy's MLS gameday rosters.
— Charles Boehm (@cboehm) October 4, 2018
(If you ask us, it wouldn’t hurt to see Alvarez make an appearance off the bench)