More Mexican stars flirt with MLS

Mexican national-teamers Adolfo 'Bofo' Bautista (left) and Jared Borgetti have both been linked with moves to MLS. Christopher Pasatieri-US PRESSWIRE Luis Bueno's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Luis. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

In the days of the Designated Player, no over-30 former superstar is out of Major League Soccer's reach.

The advent of the rule hasn't only landed such players as Claudio López and Marcelo Gallardo, it's also linked an extraordinary number of such players to MLS. But it seems the interest might be misplaced.

Since leaving Arsenal and failing to produce in a similar fashion with Barcelona, French superstar Thierry Henry seems a natural fit to join MLS as a DP. However, the ideal player is another former England Premier League player.

While Henry would make headlines, landing Jared Borgetti would be a greater, longer-lasting accomplishment.

Now, Borgetti is not the talent Henry is. Henry has won a World Cup and a European Championship; Borgetti has one Mexican league title to his credit. Henry made his name by scoring goals in one of the world's elite leagues while Borgetti had problems finding time in the same league.

Despite all of his exploits for both France and Arsenal, Henry doesn't measure up to Borgetti in one critical element: Borgetti enjoys far more support from fans stateside. Legions of fans on this side of the pond have cheered "The Desert Fox" on for the mere fact that he has worn the Mexican national-team jersey regularly for nearly eight years.

A built-in fan base? Borgetti would seem to have that more than Henry. Knowledgeable fans who remember Borgetti's clutch goals? Yes, the fans here know what Borgetti is capable of. His goal in the 2002 World Cup against Italy will likely be forever revered and remembered. His goals against Brazil and the U.S. also stand out.

Close to joining MLS? A lot closer than Henry, sources say. Now 34, Borgetti had been linked to both Colorado and Kansas City prior to this season, but Borgetti instead chose to join Monterrey. After suffering through spells in England and Saudi Arabia, Borgetti showed he still has a scorer's touch by scoring four goals in the Clausura '08 regular season and another four in the playoffs.

His spark has earned him a spot on the Mexican national team yet again after his days appeared to have been over under deposed coach Hugo Sánchez.

And his path may rightfully take him to the U.S. after all. Sources close to the negotiations told SI.com that both San Jose and Houston have spoken with Borgetti. Whether or not the Mexican legend is willing to come to terms with either club, or another MLS team, remains to be seen.

A true scorer, Borgetti is apparently asking to be paid like one, as sources placed his salary demands near Cuauhtémoc Blanco's deal. At $2.67 million, Blanco is the second highest-paid player in the league behind David Beckham.

Both San Jose and Houston would be an ideal fit for Borgetti. Near the halfway point of the '08 MLS season, the Earthquakes are last in goals scored. With 10 goals in 14 games, San Jose's dearth of offense has the club in the cellar of the Western Conference. The Quakes could use Borgetti's goals and star power, as the Bay Area hasn't enjoyed a Mexican presence in MLS.

Houston, meanwhile, never did replace Joseph Ngwenya and Nate Jaqua, who both signed with Austrian clubs before the season began. With Borgetti's punch, the Dynamo would quickly regain their status as the team to beat in the Western Conference, if not in the entire league. Like San Jose, Houston would stand to benefit from a Mexican star as well.

While certainly not in Blanco's class, Borgetti nonetheless commands respect from Mexican fans who might be more than curious to see the Mexican national team's all-time leading scorer in MLS.

And Borgetti could also be a polarizing figure in MLS. As respected as he is for his antics with El Tri, American supporters have often been on the wrong side of Borgetti's goals. He scored in two consecutive World Cup qualifying matches in the Estadio Azteca against the U.S.: in a 1-0 win in '01 and a 2-1 victory in '05.

If Borgetti is not the next name player to join MLS, perhaps a club will make a serious run at Adolfo "Bofo" Bautista. The enigmatic ex-Chivas de Guadalajara star is languishing at Jaguares de Chiapas and would do well to return to the limelight.

Still, while rumors have long surfaced about Bautista joining Chivas USA, those rumors also placed Omar Bravo there. When Bravo's deal with Guadalajara ran out, though, the first thing he did was bolt from the institution -- and owner Jorge Vergara -- to join Deportivo La Coruña of the Spanish league for the '08-09 season.

Even if Home Depot Center is not Bofo's ultimate destination, it would be well worth an MLS team's efforts to make a run at him; his creativity and flair for the dramatic is nearly unmatched in MLS.

For Borgetti or Bautista to head north, a club with a Designated Player slot must come calling. While those slots are limited, the interest for an experienced goal scorer isn't. Let's just hope he speaks Spanish and not French.