In the Major Soccer League, he has as many goals as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Mateusz Bogusz is a fan favorite with Los Angeles FC. “There aren’t many players with that kind of IQ. A move to a better league would be great,” says Erik Hultstrom.
At the end of March 2023, Mateusz Bogusz took a step back in order to take two steps forward. His move from Leeds United, after loans to Logrones and Ibiza, to Los Angeles FC was a surprise, but the player himself had a plan for his career.
The 2024 season is a breakthrough for the 22-year-old. He has 12 goals and four assists in 20 Major League Soccer appearances, scoring or assisting in each of his last nine. He also scored a hat trick in a 3-0 league win over Colorado Rapids over the weekend.
For Bogusz, MLS is supposed to be a springboard to one of the top leagues in Europe. The subject of the offensive midfielder’s transfer keeps coming back like a boomerang. In Los Angeles, they realize that sooner or later they will lose the Ruch Chorzów graduate.
– I definitely agree that it’s just a matter of time before a transfer happens – Erik Hultstrom from the “Voices of the Black and Gold Podcast” tells us. – MLS has a mixed history of sending players to the top five leagues who have been successful. There have been some successes in that regard, especially Miguel Almiron who did well at Newcastle – the journalist adds.
As WP SportoweFakty has established, the most popular clubs to ask about Bogusz are from Italy and Spain. The Americans are counting on a large cash injection. Los Angeles FC could earn from 5 to even 7 million euros on him (more HERE ).
“Lazio have been reported to be interested, so he’s being watched by at least one team in the top five leagues. I’m sure he’s on the radar of more teams. I believe a transfer will happen eventually. I think it’s a possibility this summer,” Hultstrom said.
– The fans would like him to stay because the team is fighting for the championship and is aiming to win the continental title next spring, but I can see that he is a guy who will be hard to keep, regardless of the club’s ambitions – adds our interlocutor.
All signs in the sky indicate that Bogusz will be the hero of a record transfer when it comes to the club from California. In 2022, Brian Rodriguez swapped LAFC for Mexican Club America for – in European currency – less than 6 million.
“Bogusz only cost a million. On the other hand, Rodriguez came for 10.5 million and left for less. We have Olivier Giroud, who will join after the Euros, so that could limit someone’s development opportunities. In this situation, I think an offer close to Rodriguez’s transfer fee would be a very good deal. Putting him in a top European league as someone who has proven to be a star in a smaller league would seem great for all parties,” Hultstrom believes.
Steven Cherundolo has made a big contribution to Bogusz’s development. The young coach has shown great trust in the Pole, giving him freedom to play in the attack. The 22-year-old owes a lot to the Los Angeles FC manager.
“Cherundolo is still a very young coach, but he has already proven to be one of the best in the league. LAFC has new, world-class facilities. Ante Razov and Marc dos Santos and the other coaches have a fantastic approach to player development. And Bogusz seems like an exceptionally intelligent player and a very hard-working person,” Hultstrom said.
Bogusz’s additional asset is the fact that he has become an extremely versatile player and gives the coach room to maneuver. Across the ocean, he has gathered valuable experience, playing in virtually every position in the attack.
– He started last season as a right winger. He didn’t stand out in any particular way, but he adapted to the team. Then he moved to the center and immediately became a reinforcement of the midfield line. This season we had a free spot in the number “9” position. The coach liked to play 4-3-3 with a false “9” – Cherundolo changed the attacking three. Bogusz started slowly, but very quickly learned to play well in his position – explains our interlocutor.
“Now, with regular right winger Christian Oliver playing in the Copa America against Bielsa’s Uruguay, Bogusz was needed on the right wing, where he has scored five goals in two games. At the moment, he can play exceptionally in every position in attack and midfield, except for the ‘6’. And I think that when Giroud comes and takes the ‘9’, Bogusz will probably go back to midfield,” the Californian predicts.
Bogusz had been praised for his play before, but his explosive form coincided with Euro 2024, for which he was not called up by Michał Probierz . The coach had him on his long list, but has not invited him to any training camps so far. Given his current form, it is hard to imagine Probierz omitting Bogusz from the call-ups for September’s Nations League matches.
– I think he will prove himself as a “10” in the future. He brings great flexibility. Not many players have such an IQ. A transfer to a better league will be great, even if losing such a player will hurt us. On the other hand, his example shows other players that coming to this club and devoting time to development can create a chance to get to the European TOP 5 league. Bogusz is simply a great guy, modest and hard-working – enthuses Hultstrom.