‘All my life, I always wanted to go to Europe’: MLS sensation Brandon Vazquez sees big move amid Borussia Monchengladbach ties… and insists he’s ‘not thinking too much’ about the state of the USMNT after the omission of the League of Nations
Brandon Vázquez has reiterated his desire to play in Europe amid reports linking him to Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.
sky germany first reported that the club was interested in the FC Cincinnati forward as a possible replacement for Marcus Thuram, and sporting director Roland Virkus reportedly traveled to the United States during the international break to see him.
Vázquez is aware of the interest from the 10th-place German and did not shy away from the possibility of a move when he arrived on Wednesday.
“Of course, all my life I always wanted to go to Europe,” he told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.
‘And for sure, that’s the next step I want to take. But nothing is certain, so I know I have to keep doing my job here in Cincinnati, and if that’s what’s meant to happen, then it will. But for now, I’m just focused on improving myself every day.
Brandon Vázquez had a great season last year with 18 goals and eight assists in MLS
He made his national team debut in a friendly against Serbia in January and scored in the game.
After a slow start to MLS life, Vázquez has seen his stock rise meteorically in the past year.
He scored 18 goals and chipped in eight league goals for Cincy (his previous record for goals was four) and marked his national team debut in January with a goal against Serbia.
The 24-year-old, who is eligible to play for Mexico, was not selected for the Nations League in a largely European-based squad, but has remained in the minds of US Soccer.
‘[Interim head coach] Anthony Hudson had called me a couple of days before the roster came out, let me know what this camp would be like and the players who were watching and wanted to get a better idea,’ he said.
‘So when the list came out, I already had a heads up, and he has given me good affirmations about my position with the team. So he wasn’t thinking about it too much. I’m happy that the team did well in both matches.’
Vázquez is also beginning to come into his own, opening his 2023 MLS account last weekend against Nashville after going goalless in the first four games of the season.
His strong play last year drew interest – and a reported offer of $7 million – from Mexican club Chivas, although Vázquez still believes his best path to Europe is where he already is.
“I think Cincinnati is a place where I feel comfortable, I know my teammates, I have good chemistry with the players around me,” he said.
Vazquez has built a good relationship with his teammates at Cincinnati, who haven’t lost this season.
“If I had gone to Mexico, I would have started from scratch and, you know, it might take a while to get back on track and feel fit and feel the chemistry with the players around you.” All of that takes time. I think where I am now is definitely the right path.
However much longer he stays in MLS, a mid-season summer move could be possible if Thuram leaves Gladbach, Vázquez is enjoying his football at the moment.
Cincinnati is second in the East with 11 points, hasn’t lost yet this season, and Vazquez is “super, super confident” in a group that includes Brenner and Luciano “Lucho” Acosta in attacking positions alongside him.
Vazquez thinks he could lift some MLS trophies, if he’s available for the winter.
“I can see us winning everything for sure,” he said.