Before signing with the Philadelphia Union last July, Tranquillo Barnetta had been to three World Cups, spent a decade in the German Bundesliga and played in a dozen matches in UEFA Champions League.
On the open market, he had been sought out by numerous teams throughout Europe, including those from arguably the top two leagues in the world, both the Bundesliga and England’s Premier League.
He signed with the Union.
“After 11 years in the Bundesliga, I was looking for something new,” Barnetta said. “After the first talks with Jim [Curtin] and Chris [Albright], I was really excited about the whole project here.