Can MLS help a Mexican star realize his Euro dream?

	Juan Pablo García left the Mexican league and joined Chivas USA during the '05 season. Whether or not he will stay in MLS remains a question. Victor Decolongon/Getty Images
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CARSON, Calif. -- For decades, European clubs have hardly counted on Mexico as a source of talent. Relatively few Mexicans have made the jump across the pond, and even fewer have had success in the Old World.

This summer, however, the trickle of Mexicans heading overseas swelled to a flood as five took up residence in Europe.

Juan Pablo García was not one of them. "Loco" García still plies his trade in Major League Soccer and has not yet realized his dream of reaching Europe. Whether or not his year-plus in MLS has left him dissatisfied, though, depends on when you ask him.

In the Mexican daily Esto, García said, "This league has not given me what I had desired: international notoriety and status. I have it in mind to return to Mexico and then Europe. In December my contract is up and I will look to return to my country to play. I cannot remain in this league."

Yet when I asked him if he had soured on MLS about two weeks before Esto ran its story, García insisted he was happy with Chivas USA and was not interested in returning to Mexico.

"I want to play here and go to Europe," he told me. "If I can get from here to the [Mexican] national team and then to Europe, it would be great. I have an uncertain future and I can't guarantee anything, but the only thing I can do is to work hard, and that will open doors for me. If I were to return to Mexico, first I'd have to talk to Chivas USA and Chivas Guadalajara, but for now I am comfortable here."

Perhaps like no other Mexican player, García's nickname fits him to a T. Loco, or "Crazy," succinctly describes García. When his contract was up with Atlas after the Clausura '05 season, García did the unthinkable and turned his back on the Mexican First Division.

Breaking a so-called gentlemen's agreement that Mexican clubs have in place regarding player movement, García shunned Mexican giant Club América's desire to acquire him and instead chose Major League Soccer. It would be the quickest path to Europe, he figured. After all, other players had spent little time in MLS before cashing in and heading to Europe.

At first, García struggled to adjust to American soccer. He scored only once for Chivas USA in '05. This season, though, he has been one of the league's top players. He has scored six goals, and most of them have been impressive. Whether he chipped a ball over Colorado keeper Joe Cannon's head or tucked a 20-yard shot into the upper corner of the net, García has shown he can score in different ways.

García also has the uncanny ability to get under his opponents' skin. On the road he antagonizes opposing fans -- especially when he scores. After scoring a goal at Chicago on Aug. 12, García quickly ran toward the stands, smiled broadly and put his hands to his ears, begging for a response from Fire fans.

He can even incite opponents during training. Chivas USA forward Ante Razov went after García earlier this year and had to be restrained by several teammates as he loudly spewed profanities at García.

Loco? Yes. European quality? Possibly. Disillusioned? Realistic would be a more fitting description.

"I don't know if this team will help me get to Europe," García said of Chivas. "I've never regretted my decision. I've never doubted myself over making this journey to the U.S. I continue to be less and less disillusioned. I have more energy, a stronger mentality and a great ambition. Knowing that things are changing for the better motivates me."

If he really is thinking about a return to Mexico, that would apparently be news to his teammates. Both Claudio Suárez and Francisco Palencia said they did not know of García's future desires.

"I don't know what his ambitions are, if he desires to remain here or go back to Mexico or another country," Suárez said. "I think he's doing well here. The most important thing is that he's helping the team, and he's been doing that lately."

Suárez discounted the notion that MLS can't help players reach the Mexican national team and pointed to himself as proof.

"When a player plays well and does things the right way, he has a better chance of getting on the national team," he said. "After having come here and having spent little time here, I was called up."

Still, García has doubts whether his standout play in MLS will translate into an opportunity with El Tricolor.

"It is difficult to know if the new coach will look at this league. From my point of view, I don't think they will glance at this league," García said. "I don't think they will say, 'Let's look at Loco García to see how he's doing at Chivas USA.'"

And how would that affect him?

"I will have to raise my level even higher and put up more numbers so they will have to look at me," García said. "Hopefully they will look toward this league and see what I am doing here at Chivas USA."

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