By Alex Labidou
22 Jun 2011 07:24:00
Michael Bradley, Aston Villa
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Michael Bradley won’t be returning to Aston Villa after new manager Alex McLeish decided not to pick up the club’s option to purchase the American midfielder.
Instead, Bradley will continue to feature for the United States during the Gold Cup while keeping any options for his club future open.
Bradley’s agent Ron Waxman confirmed Aston Villa’s decision to Goal.com via e-mail.
“Michael will not be joining Aston Villa on a permanent transfer,” Waxman said.
As he updated reporters Tuesday about his status, Bradley seemed resigned to finishing the last year of his contract with the Borussia Mönchengladbach if necessary but would prefer to find a solution that is mutually beneficial to both sides.
“I’ve got a year left on my contract there so we’ll see what happens,” said Bradley.
“If something comes up, that’s good for Gladbach and good for me, I’ll look at it. Otherwise, it’s another year at Gladbach.”
Given Gladbach’s financial situation, the club would likely prefer to sell the the 23-year-old now rather than let his contract run out. However, the club isn’t against Bradley’s return.
“We are trying to reach Michael by telephone,” Borussia sporting director Max Eberl told Bild.
“If there are no other option for him he’ll train with Gladbach after the Gold Cup and his vacation. He has one more year left on his contract.”
Bradley is currently with the U.S. national team in Houston ahead of the Gold Cup semi-final against Panama.
With the club futures of several United States team players still in limbo, Bradley believes that international competition is beneficial because it allows those players, himself included, to focus solely on the national team.
“You get to get away from all of that,” Bradley said.
“One of the special things about this team is that when guys come in, we are committed to the U.S. national team and we don’t let things on the outside distract us.”
“It’s been nice to be here in the Gold Cup and concentrate on the things at hand.”
Midfield man | Bradley is a vital cog for his country, but not Aston Villa
Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Oguchi Onyewu, Freddy Adu and even Clint Dempsey all have uncertain statuses within their current club teams.
Wednesday’s match marks the Stars and Stripes’ fifth over the span of 17 days, so there has been limited time to think about anything else aside from fitness and the next opponent.
Still, in a rare moment of pause, Bradley opened up on his perspective about what’s happened with his own current situation.
“My experience at Villa was a good one but it is a new situation now,” he said.
“With a new manager coming in, it’s totally understandable that it is his club and he wants to have his say on the team.”
“On my end, its good because I don’t want to be at a place where I am not wanted.”
Bradley’s loan to the Birmingham-based club was based on a fractured relationship between the midfielder and then-coach Michael Frontzeck at Gladbach.
In May, the club explained that it never wanted to let Bradley leave the club and, now under new management, it appeared as if Bradley was open to returning to the German club.
“No doors are closed,” said Bradley to Goal.com after the U.S. friendly 4-0 loss to Spain earlier this month. “I’m just trying to keep all options open at this point.”