Julián Carranza: “It’s impossible that Messi plays in MLS”

Julián Carranza is enjoying a breath of fresh air in his first year with the Philadelphia Union after two frustrating seasons with Inter Miami CF. The Argentine striker is having a breakout campaign and he has been involved in 23 direct goal contributions for the Union so far during the 2022 MLS regular season.

“I think the type of players that Philadelphia has and their style of play has helped me a lot. We are connected, supporting each other and these are some factors that have helped me improve my level. Also I was not seeing minutes with Inter Miami and I couldn’t showcase my talent,” Carranza told AS.

The Philadelphia Union ace also mentioned that at Inter Miami he had to fight for minutes with Gonzalo Higuaín so the situation was not ideal. Both players have a very good relationship, until this day, and it was Higuaín who told him to switch teams prior to the start of the 2022 MLS campaign.

“The difference is that I had Gonzalo in front of me and it was difficult for me to see minutes because he is a top player. I would come off the bench and play five or 10 minutes and it was not ideal for me. I have a very good relationship with Gonzalo, he gave me a lot tips and he always told me that I should go somewhere that would let me showcase my talent and that is what happened with Philadelphia,” added Julián Carranza.

Carranza one of the most productive strikers in MLS

The 22-year-old has scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in 27 appearances, 24 as a starter, so far this season, with five games left to play. Carranza also became the first player from the Philadelphia Union with two hat-tricks in a single season and the first one to do it against the same team, DC United, in a single season since former LA Galaxy legend Cobi Jones.

“The first game against DC United I felt good and confident. I scored three goals and missed a penalty. In the second game against them [DC United] I didn’t start the game right because I missed to clear shots on goal and in the second half I scored my hat-trick. I don’t know what to say, maybe it was a lucky day but it felt nice to score two hat-tricks,” said Carranza to AS.

Julián Carranza has been included several times in the MLS Team of the Week, named the Player of the Week 26 and is in talks to win the golden boot and be named the 2022 MLS Most Valuable Player. The Argentine striker is helping the Union fight with LAFC to win the Supporters’ Shield this year and fight to lift the 2022 MLS Cup.

“Basically we had our goals prior to the beginning of the season. We wanted to qualify to the playoffs, win the Eastern Conference, the Supporters’ Shield and we are now fighting with LAFC and we are going neck-to-neck, but they have one less game than us. We hope that they lose the next games and we keep winning to win the Supporters’ Shield and then the MLS Cup.”

Julián Carranza on Lionel Messi playing in Major League Soccer

Lionel Messi has been heavily linked with a move to the United States in the near future and play in Major League Soccer before retiring. The 35-year-old is still under contract with Paris Saint-Germain and he is playing at a very high level this season, so Julián Carranza doesn’t see Messi playing in MLS anytime soon.

“No, no, impossible! I think it is very complicated because he wouldn’t be able to have a normal life. He won’t” said Carranza. The Philadelphia Union striker also talked about a possible call up to the Argentina national team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, but he confirmed that he has yet to talk with manager Lionel Scaloni.

“No, no. I haven’t talked to anyone, but if they want to talk with me I’ll be more than happy to answer the call. I would like to play, but for now there has been no contact,” added Carranza.