Orlando City SC have certainly not been shy about making a splash in their brief time in MLS.
And they very nearly landed Mexican star Javier āChicharitoā Hernandez last year to go along with Brazilian great KakĆ”, Orlando president Phil Rawlins confirmed Friday night during UniMasā pregame show ahead of the Lionsā home match against the Chicago Fire.
āWe made a very concerted effort to bring him here,ā Rawlins said on Univision's 'La Barra MLS' pregame show ahead of Friday's game against Chicago. āWe were very serious in our discussions with him, we went a long way down the roads with him, and unfortunately we couldnāt get to an agreement with him.ā
Instead, despite confirming this winter that he considered a move to MLS, Hernandez signed last summer with German club Bayer Leverkusen. Itās worked out well for the forward, with 23 goals in 33 appearances this season.
āHeās having a great season,ā Rawlins said. āIād love to have seen him do that in purple for us.ā
Rawlins, however, didnāt close the door on Hernandez coming to central Florida.
āThe doors are always open for great players like that,ā he said.