LAFC
Will Carlos Vela sign a contract renewal with LAFC?
The Mexican forward’s future at BMO Stadium is up in the air as Vela and the club struggle to agree on a contract extension.
Carlos Vela may have played his last regular season game at BMO Stadium.
The 34-year-old’s contract is set to end at the end of this season and he is yet to agree a contract extension with LAFC.
AS USA’s Rodrigo Serrano has revealed that Carlos Vela’s LAFC renewal is currently at a stand-still, with no sign that he will agree an extension in the near future. With just two weeks of the regular season remaining the lack of progress suggests that this could be his final campaign with the MLS Cup holders.
Last Wednesday LAFC breezed past Minnesota United with a 5-1 win. Vela started the game but was replaced by Stipe Biuk with 20 minutes remaining.
Will Carlos Vela leave LAFC?
In June 2022 LAFC general manager John Thorrington announced that Carlos Vela’s contract had been extended, but only for one year. That deal expires at the end of the current season.
Throughout 2023 both the club and player have repeatedly been asked about the prospect of Vela resigning. However neither party has been willing to give much detail on the subject, preferring instead to focus on LAFC’s on-field situation.
There have been rumours of a return to his homeland of Mexico, but his future will likely depend on how LAFC finish the 2023 season.
Can LAFC win the MLS Cup?
The midweek victory over Minnesota United mathematically confirmed LAFC qualification for the playoffs, but in reality their place in the post-season was never in doubt. They may have struggled with inconsistency at points this year but they boast one of the best squads in MLS and have shown that they know how to win.
LAFC will close out the regular season with two away fixtures against Austin FC and Vancouver Whitecaps. If they do well in those games they could well overtake Seattle Sounders and leap into second place in the Western Conference.
For all their inconsistency they remain one of the best teams in the league and they have the firepower and experience to triumph in a knock-out competition. MVP candidate Denis Bouanga has returned to form at a crucial time, registering a hat trick against Minnesota United to take his MLS tally for the season to 17.
They have the quality to lift the trophy but recent MLS history is against them. The last team to retain the MLS Cup were LA Galaxy in 2012.