Did Giovani dos Santos really retire? The question is one that has been plaguing the Mexican international for years. The 26-year-old played in the Premier League, Championship, Turkish Super Lig, and the Turkish Cup before joining Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy in 2015. Although criticized for his lack of commitment in Europe, Dos Santos has become an undisputed leader for the Galaxy.
If Gio Dos Santos really did retire, it would be for personal reasons. He would be tired of the pressure and would prefer to focus on other things, including a restaurant. He would also be frustrated by the lack of team opportunities and the press attention. But it’s hard to predict a person’s reasons for retirement. Perhaps it’s a mixture of both. If so, it might be a good time to look into his background and see if he has any other plans in mind.
Despite his lackluster football performance at Barcelona, the former Brazil international has been linked with the restaurant business. His older brother Eder Dos Santos owns a restaurant in Barcelona. Gio dos Santos is a cousin of Jonathan dos Santos and David Beckham, and they’ve both been linked to Inter Miami. Perhaps the two of them will find their way back together and a new club.
Perhaps the most important reason Dos Santos decided to retire is that he was tired of playing in the relegation zone. His last season was spent with Mallorca, which had high expectations. His success with the Yellow Submarine was not enough to lift the team out of the relegation zone. He had to leave his beloved Madrid and Barcelona to play for Mallorca. And even though the fans still had high expectations, he never achieved those expectations.
The player’s decision to retire is not completely unexpected. As reported by ESPN, Dos Santos is analyzing all the available offers before making a decision. However, it will take some time before he settles on a new direction in his career. ESPN reported that he was considering offers from MLS and the United Arab Emirates. So, if this is the case, it might be a good time to consider a change.
Dos Santos scored 26 goals and dished out 22 assists in 77 league games. His best season came in 2016, when he helped LA reach the Western Conference semifinals. However, due to injuries, the Galaxy missed the postseason for the second straight season. He was the second highest-paid player on the Galaxy, earning $2 million. As a result, his departure from the Galaxy’s roster leaves an opening for a designated player position under new coach Greg Vanney.
Although Dos Santos is now playing in the MLS, it seems he’s not going to stay there. He’s been with the LA Galaxy for three seasons, and he’s still a valuable player on the team. The club hasn’t had much success in MLS, so he might as well go back to his homeland. But is this the right move?
