The LA Galaxy kicked off their 2013 preseason on Friday, but two key figures from the 2013 season were not at StubHub Center.
Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (21 league starts in 2013) and out-of-contract midfielder Mikey Stephens (21 matches played in 2013) were not among the players reporting to camp on the first day of the preseason for the four-time MLS Cup champs.
Cudicini's absence will not come as a surprise after a series of shaky performances from the veteran Italian in 2013 saw him replaced in goal by Panamanian international Jaime Penedo, who was acquired on August 5. The club did not immediately specify which mechanism they had used to release the EPL veteran.
Meanwhile, Stephens continued to fill a number of holes as a stop-gap starting midfielder and a dependable sub off the bench in 2013. That was essentially the role he played throughout all four years at the Galaxy, never coming close to cracking the regular starting lineup.
With his contract expiring at the end of 2013, Stephens himself indicated in November that his future at the club was "up in the air."
In addition to Cudicini and Stephens, Sean Franklin (taken by D.C. United in Re-Entry Draft), Hector Jimenez (traded to Columbus), Pablo Mastroeni (retired), Jose Villarreal (loaned to Cruz Azul), Laurent Courtois and Colin Clark (options declined) were not back for Bruce Arena's side.
They will make room for Fluminense loanee Samuel, Canadian forward Rob Friend, attacking midfielder Baggio Husidic and 2014 MLS SuperDraft pick Kyle Venter.
