Galactic Notebook: Clarity on Araujo and finishing off Coachella

While the LA Galaxy completed their time at the preseason Coachella Valley Invitational on Wednesday, the biggest news of the day again came in the continuing and unusual saga of fullback Julian Araujo's attempted transfer to FC Barcelona.

Galaxy manager Gregg Vaney confirmed that Araujo is no longer an LA Galaxy player. He has already departed for Barcelona and was spotted at the team's recent Europa League knockout round match against Manchester United.

However, officially his winter transfer was denied because of the arrival of some registration documents after the close of Spain's winter transfer window. That likely means Araujo will spend the spring training but not playing in any official competitions for the club.

The teams and the player have already agreed to terms. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 21-year-old right back will sign with Barcelona until 2026 for a fee of around 4 million dollars. That fee is believed to hold regardless of whether there is some last-ditch successful appeal to sanction the move this season, or whether Araujo doesn't officially become eligible until the 2023-2024 campaign.

“The transfer had always gone through. It was more of a matter of registration and the registration obviously didn't go through, “explained Vanney. “I believe there's still another appeals process that's going on Barcelona side that has nothing to do with us at this point,” he added.

Feeling the loss

The loss of Araujo now makes right back a position of need for the Galaxy. Araujo was arguably LA’s most productive chance creator and most dangerous wide player. His stats for the team during the 2022 season speak to that sentiment.

Earlier this week reports from Brazil indicated the Galaxy offered a year-long loan with an option to buy offer for Fluminense right back Lucas Felipe Calegari, only for the Brazilian club to reject the offer for the 20-year-old.

The only current true right back on the roster is Kelvin Leerdam, who hasn’t been a starter in MLS since the 2021 season. Leerdam made 10 MLS appearances in 2022 MLS, with the latest in August. Sega Coulibaly played at right back in LA’s last match against the Red Bulls. Compared to Araujo, Leerdam is much less adventurous in the attack and doesn’t provide the same level of service on crosses.

“I'm more happy for [Araujo] than sad for our loss I kind of back us to find a replacement, I'm sure that will happen,” said goalkeeper Jonathan Bond. “We've got Kelvin as well and Sega's done at great right back in the games but my main feeling about it is that we're just really happy for Julian because that's a huge moves not just for Galaxy and Julian, but for the MLS to have a player come from our team and go straight into Barcelona is pretty special."

Coachella finale

On the field, the Galaxy openly approached their Coachella finale, a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls, with the objective of getting time for players who hadn't played a lot in the event to this point.

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez did not feature after sustaining a hamstring injury in the previous game and is day to day, Vanney said.

“The objective was to get a lot of minutes to some of the guys that that we hope to continue to build for depth and that will also play a role in the season, pushing fitness things like that,” Vanney said after the match.

While not yet announced as a new signing, winger Tyler Boyd started for the Galaxy, while veteran MLS defensive midfielder Uri Rosell made a late appearance as a trialist.

Against a Red Bulls side playing close to their best XI, the Galaxy held up well against RBNY's intense press, while Jonathan Klinsmann made some key saves to keep the game level through halftime.

Cameron Harper put the Red Bulls ahead in the 50th minute, and the Galaxy's starting-caliber late reinforcements chased a late equalizer to no avail.

“I said to them, this was going to be a training day for them because it's midweek and most of them will be ready to go on the weekend. It was a kind of herky-jerky 30 minutes with stop-and-start and injuries and little things going on. So it was hard to I felt really like establish a rhythm with the guys that came on,” Vanney said. 

The Galaxy plays Toronto FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday in the final preseason match for both clubs.

Ready for Year 2

Not many people gave attention to the Galaxy acquiring midfielder Mark Delgado in early 2022. Coming into 2023, nearly everyone knows he's become a key for LA in the middle of the park.

Delgado was excellent in the first half of the 2022 season and his play elevated alongside the additions of Riqui Puig and Gaston Brugman later in the year. Now he has a full preseason to build chemistry with his midfield group.

“You grow respect for one another, you grow that combination on the field, that relationship off the field and you kind of get to know one another more on and off the field and it all comes together,” stated Delgado.

Delgado also says the addition and integration of free agent Memo Rodriguez has gone smoothly.

“He has a good feel with the ball, great skillset, good football mentality, and (is) a great guy off the field. He's came in and just seamlessly just fit in perfectly, " added Delgado. 

Rodriguez arrives just in time, with fewer than 10 days remaining until the LA Galaxy’s Rose Bowl opener against LAFC to open the 2023 MLS season. The Pasadena venue is the original home of the Galaxy, and The Striker’s Mike Gray reported earlier this month that the match is 75% sold out.

It will be extra special for Delgado, who grew up in Pasadena.

“It means a lot," he said. "I grew up watching the Galaxy there a long time ago and I had a lot of memories that are great with my parents there as well. To be on the other side of it and being on the field and representing the Galaxy, wearing that badge, it means a lot. So yeah, I mean, I don't take it very lightly. And you know, I'm really excited and I'm really looking forward to it.”