Freddie Ljungberg has just signed for the Seattle Sounders FC as their designated player. This was the new rule invented to allow David Beckham to sign for the L.A. Galaxy last year, meaning that one player on the squad will not be subjected to salary cap. Ljungberg's signing is quite a coup as on the surface, as he does not appear to be the battered old pro looking for an easy paycheque at the end of a long career. He is, after all, only 31 and captained Sweden at Euro 2008. In an interview with Seattle's 950 KJR, he had the following to say on the situation:
And then the MLS thing came about a little bit, so I started to talk to people in the football, or soccer as you say, in Europe, and I was like "Yeah, you know", and they're like "No, no Freddie, you shouldn't go for another three years, you should stay and play at the top here for another three years, then you go to the MLS." But then I felt if I'm gonna go, I should go when I'm still at my prime. If I go after three years maybe it's a bit of a lie to tell people I will help them and then I'll be shit.
Lets rewind to July 2007:
"I am really happy to be here and he wants me to help take this club forward. It feels like a big challenge and I am really happy with it."
August 2008:
Combined with the £3 million transfer fee paid to Arsenal last year, and his £85,000-a-week wages for last season, West Ham have spent close to £13 million on Ljungberg, who played just 25 games for the club and scored twice.
I still think this is a great move for the MLS and the Sounders, but I'm sure most West Ham fans would not make much of Ljungberg's assertion that he is still in his prime. Still, kudos to the Swede for his casual swearing on live radio.
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