NATE JAQUA TO GALAXY Toronto coach says trade struck
Nate Jaqua, a promising forward from Chicago, apparently pushed for the trade to Los Angeles. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
Accoding to Toronto FC head coach Mo Johnston in a television interview on Tuesday, Nate Jaqua has been traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for $125,000 worth of allocation money.
Johnston was a guest on the Canadian network The Score on a program called SportsWorld, hosted by James Sharman.
Jaqua, who has been trialing with teams in Europe, reportedly let Toronto FC coach Mo Johnston know early on that he preferred to play abroad, or specifically, in Los Angeles. The incentive for Toronto to trade him was thus high.
However, Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas apparantly nixed an earlier trade attempt that would have meant losing promising midfielder/defender Nathan Sturgis to Toronto.
Jaqua trained in Los Angeles earlier this year as part of the national team's January camp. He earned his first international cap in the squad's easy victory over Norway.
The Galaxy have taken something of a gamble with the trade, as Jaqua could still find a European offer more attractive.
The 6'3 forward tallied 21 goals for the Fire in 92 appearances.
In 2006, he was picked as the Fire's lone All-Star representative, playing in the match against Chelsea FC, which the MLS All-Stars won, 1-0.
As of Wednesday morning, the Galaxy administration had yet to confirm or deny the trade, simply remarking, "No comment."
Toronto FC press representatives confirmed that Johnston did say Jaqua was traded in the interview, but would not confirm that the trade had been made.
Johnston was traveling to Florida and could not be reached for comment.
