CARSON, Calif. - When Paulo Nagamura heard that Chivas USA was interested in acquiring him, he grew excited. But when a proposed trade that would have sent him from Toronto FC to the Red-and-White did not go through, Nagamura's mind was already made up.
"When they told me the trade was off," Nagamura said, "I asked (Toronto coach) Mo Johnston to make the trade because I wanted to go to Chivas."
In the end, both player and club received their wish. Nagamura joined on May 4 after Chivas USA after the club dealt a 2008 first-round SuperDraft selection for the Brazilian midfielder.
The deal coincided with a week-long Chivas USA road trip and had Nagamura traveling across the border and across the United States. Nagamura traveled from Toronto to Washington D.C. where he first joined up with Chivas USA and played all 90 minutes in the club's 2-1 loss to D.C. United. He then went back to Toronto to gather belongings and prepare for a move back to southern California and eventually rejoined the club in Columbus, where he played all 90 minutes in the club's 1-1 tie with the Crew.
"He's done a lot of traveling and has gone back and forth to get his visa and trying to move himself," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "Given those circumstances he's done a pretty decent job for us and he's only going to get better and better. He's going to get more comfortable with the group and the group is going to get more comfortable with him."
Nagamura slipped right into the Chivas USA midfield. He played a key role in the center of the field alongside veteran Jesse Marsch. Nagamura filled a similar spot for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2005 and 2006. Two years ago, Nagamura helped stabilize the midfield as the Los Angeles Galaxy won MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup titles.
Such experience will only benefit his new team.
"He fits our team really well," Marsch said. "He's got a great attitude. His work ethic is fantastic. The way he plays, I have respect him from playing against him but playing with him I respect him even more."
Preki said he respected Nagamura's work ethic and skill in the middle of the field. Though Nagamura has yet to score a goal in his three-year MLS career, Preki said he likes the way Nagamura picks his spots to join the attack.
"He's a guy who works real hard in the middle, he covers the goal pretty good but he can play soccer too," Preki said. "He's not afraid to get forward. The last game he got forward a couple of times and had a few crosses."
After playing in two road games, Nagamura went the distance last Sunday against the club that left him unprotected in last year's expansion draft. Despite his accomplishments and success with the Galaxy, Nagamura was deemed expendable and quickly snapped up by the expansion Canadian side.
Life in Canada, though, was not like living in Southern California and Nagamura longed for a return to the Southland. He got his wish when Chivas USA sought a player to add to an already solid midfield group.
"I was happy because I knew Chivas wanted me and I wanted to come back to L.A. too," said Nagamura, who began his career with famed Brazilian side Sao Paulo.
For "Nags," playing against the Galaxy was strange. After the pregame introductions, most Galaxy players gave Nagamura a longer salute, be it a handshake, a hug or both. During the match, it was all business as Nagamura played his usual defensive-minded role in the middle of the park.
Nagamura picked up two fouls, had two shots on goal and went forward on several occasions as well. Nevertheless, seeing his former teammates on the other side of the Super Clasico was a bit odd, he said.
"I know some of them of course. I played with them the last two years," Nagamura said. "It's strange playing against the team that I played with for two years but that's how this career is. One year you are with one team and another year you are with another. That's how it is.
Ultimately, Nagamura said he is happy in his new surroundings both on and off the field.
"I don't have any issues with any particular person in the Galaxy," Nagamura said. "Now I'm on the Chivas side and I'm going to work hard every day to make Chivas and myself better."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
