League MVP Carlos Vela likely opting out of MLS is Back tournament?
Hours after Major League Soccer side FC Dallas confirmed a coronavirus outbreak among players after the team landed in Florida for the MLS is Back tournament, former player and ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez speculated that LAFC star forward and reigning MLS MVP Carlos Vela would opt out of joining teammates at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the competition:
It appears Gomez was spot on.
On Wednesday, ESPN's Jeff Carlisle reported that Vela is likely to remove himself from the tournament, largely because his wife is pregnant. Carlisle added, however, that Vela hasn't yet informed the club of his final decision.
Family members aren't allowed inside the MLS "bubble" during the tournament.
Last year's winner of the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award set a league single-season scoring record with 34 goals in 31 regular-season appearances in 2019.
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