After getting over my initial disappointment upon hearing the news that Juan Agudelo's English work permit has been denied, I've begun to reconsider the situation. When I first heard that Agudelo was going to be going to Stoke City, I had my doubts about his ability to break his way into meaningful minutes. It has already proven to be too great a task for Brek Shea and Maurice Edu, and despite flashes of brilliance over the years Juan hasn't shown himself to be a can't miss prospect. As the season has worn on and Brek and Maurice have languished in street clothes, it has become increasingly clear that Stoke is not the place for Agudelo to begin his grand adventure.
It isn't just the relative disappointment of the Americans on Stoke City that had me concerned for Juan, it is also the lack of success that Jozy Altidore has had so far this season. Jozy's high profile move to Sunderland has been something of a barometer for the prospects of Americans playing in the EPL, and at the moment he is not inspiring a lot of confidence. It would be difficult for a manager to sell the fans (and his bosses for that matter) on playing an untested young American during critical games, and that obstacle might have proven to be too much to overcome. It isn't fair to compare two drastically different players to each other simply because they are both American, but Juan would almost certainly have been subjected to more intense scrutiny because of Jozy's slow start.
So what is the right move for Juan Agudelo? As much as I'd like to see young Americans getting high profile opportunities, I think that a move to any of the big four leagues would be a bad idea. I have a hard time imagining him getting a fair chance at any clubs in Spain, England, Germany, or Italy, even if any of them were willing to make the investment to sign him. His best option will be somewhere that is looking to actually play him consistently, or at least a club that sees him as a viable contender for their starting XI.
Enter AZ Alkmaar. I know it might seem a little too obvious, considering the recent success Jozy and Aron Johannsson, but why wouldn't they be interested? It's looking increasingly likely that Johannsson will be in line for a move to a big time club at the end of the Eredivisie season, and they have had such success with American strikers that they might be willing to dip their toe back into the pool. If they were to bring in Agudelo during the winter transfer window and give him the rest of the season to learn under Johannsson, he could be a difference maker for the Cheese Farmers by this time next season.
It might fit a little too easily, but it would be fun wouldn't it?
Soccer VAVELA Blessing in Disguise: What's Next for Juan?
Juan Agudelo won't be going to Stoke City in January, but could this be the best thing that could have happened to him?
