As the Houston Dynamo return for preseason ahead of their foray into the Concacaf Champions League next month, star winger Alberth Elis is dominating headlines.
This comes as no surprise, of course. The 22-year-old is one of the club's biggest stars, but his days in Houston are numbered with the Honduran international heavily rumored to be a transfer target for Turkish side Fenerbahce and spoke of his desire to continue his career in Europe sooner rather than later.
“I have a contract, I am a professional, but it is logical that if an offer or opportunity to move to Europe presents itself, what player wouldn’t want to go?" Elis said in Spanish after the club's first preseason training session Tuesday. "Any player would want to go abroad. All I can do is wait. If I don’t move abroad. nothing changes.”
Still, Elis isn't going to force his way out of Houston. He is happy with the Dynamo and is more than content to spend 2019 with the club.
“No (the rumors aren't a distraction), I am happy to be here and to be back here at training," Elis said. "As far as my future, that is up to my agent and the team. Personally, I have made my wishes known and it doesn’t depend on me. If I do not move, I am a professional under contract and I will continue to work and get better each day.”
Dynamo general manager Matt Jordan agrees with his Honduran star that the rumors aren't yet a distraction.
“Listen, this is professional sports," Jordan said. "We have a lot of good players, and we get a lot of inquiries for our players on a regular basis from countries abroad, in South America and in Europe and all over the place. It’s very normal, and I think the most important thing is you have real open communication, and I think that’s what helps in these situations. We think very highly of Alberth, and we’re just ready to continue to keep working.”
Whenever Elis does move to Europe, he says he has MLS and the Dynamo to thank.
“That was my goal when I arrived," Elis said when asked if his brand has elevated since coming to Houston in 2017. "Mentally I was ready to take the next step and soon the next step is a move to Europe. If that opportunity is around the corner, well, I am glad they are scouting me and considering me a part of their plan. As a player, all I can think about is the next training session, how I can improve and be ready to capitalize on the next opportunity.”
