CARSON, Calif. (AP) Defender Omar Gonzalez has been transferred from the Los Angeles Galaxy to Mexico’s Pachuca.
The 6-foot-5 center back was viewed as a possible future star for the U.S. national team when he made his international debut in 2009, but his career has stalled since January 2012, when he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in a collision with fellow American Timmy Chandler. The injury occurred during Gonzalez’s first training session with Germany’s Nuremberg, where he had been loaned.
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Gonzalez reinjured the knee in May 2014 and recovered to start the Americans’ last group-stage match and round-of-16 loss to Belgium at the World Cup. He has 30 international appearances but has fallen behind Geoff Cameron, John Brooks, Matt Besler and Michael Orozco on U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s depth chart.
An American-born son of Mexican parents, Gonzalez has dual citizenship. He helped the Galaxy win three MLS Cup titles, is a four-time pick for the league’s MLS Best XI and was voted 2011 Defender of the Year.
Gonzalez had a $1.2 million base salary this year. He became a designated player in 2013, but the Galaxy paid down their commitment to sign Mexican star Giovani Dos Santos in July.