When news emerged that LA Galaxy striker Giovani Dos Santosdeclined an invitation to join the Mexican national team for this summer’s Copa America Centenario, MLS fans reacted with a range of emotions.
But a couple of Dos Santos’ comrades on the El Tri squad have offered up support and understanding.
In a live Q&A video posted on the Mexican national team’s official Facebook page, captain Andres Guardado and defender Yasser Corona made it clear they back Dos Santos’ decision.
"Greetings to my brother Gio, who has his reasons for not coming," Guardado said at one point.
Corona added: “We send a greeting, we miss him, and we will visit Los Angeles.”
Dos Santos, who has five goals and five assists in his last six games for the Galaxy, was called up for El Tri’s Copa America squad, Mexican manager Juan Carlos Osorio told reporters last week, but the striker declined. Both Osorio and Dos Santos have refused to elaborate on his reasons for declining the invitations to join the Mexican national team.
The 27-year-old Mexican international has not appeared for El Tri since their participation in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Galaxy return to action this weekend against the Montreal Impact (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE) while Copa America kicks off on June 3. Mexico will open against Uruguay on June 5 in Glendale, Arizona.
