FOTOS: Alex Menéndez / AP IMAGES, & USWNT

La excepcional delantera del Team USA de soccer femenino, Alex Morgan, decidió recientemente mudarse de equipo, de liga, y de país...

Morgan abandona, temporeramente, al club Orlando Pride, de la National Women Soccer League (NWSL), para darle un nuevo giro a su carrera profesional en Europa, en la reconocida Division 1 Féminine, específicamente con el cotizado club Olympique Lyon.

Morgan debutará en el fútbol francés ahora en enero, hasta mayo, cuando concluyen las ligas europeas. Luego, regresa en verano a Orlando en la NWSL.

¿Por qué tomar esta decisión, justo cuando el Orlando Pride acaba de debutar en la NWSL, y en momentos que dicha liga está subiendo su nivel y prestigio?

La propia Morgan lo explica en un editorial en la página web The Player's Tribune:


ALEX MORGAN / THE PLAYER'S TRIBUNE:

== "As you may have heard by now, I’ve decided to head to France and join the Olympique Lyonnais football club for the conclusion of their 2016–17 season.

This was not an easy decision for me. But after a few weeks of deliberation, I finally made this decision during a belated honeymoon that I recently took with my husband, Servando, in Europe.

I will be leaving Servando and my family (and our dog, Blue) behind, and I know from years of experience that phone calls and FaceTime are not a fun way to stay connected. I also know that our U.S. Women’s National Team is in a critical place at the moment, as we fight for what’s fair in a new CBA, and that it will be more difficult for me to help lead from abroad. I know, too, that The Pride and our incredible fans will be opening a state-of-the-art new stadium without me, and that I will miss the early part of the season. All of those things made it very difficult for me to make this decision.

So why Lyon … and why now?

First, Lyon is a team that’s world-renowned for excellence, with a roster that includes many of the greatest players in the world. In fact, Lyon won all three possible titles last season: Champions League, French League and the Coupe de France. They are committed to growing women’s soccer and provide the women with first-class facilities and an unparalleled training environment on par with the men’s team.

They recently opened a new stadium that holds 60,000 people, and the training facility is right next door — perfect grass fields, covered fields for when it rains, beautiful locker rooms, everything you need, really, to create an environment for success. And, of course, again, the players on the team are among the best footballers in the world. Everyone on Lyon plays for their respective national teams, so the training there is just phenomenal. You have to bring your best every day if you want to earn a starting spot.

I’m 27 years old.

I’m in my prime right now. But my prime isn’t going to last forever.

I have big goals.

I want to be the best player in the United States … the best player in the world.

So, as much as I love living and training and playing in Orlando, I’ve decided to take a huge risk and bet on myself.

I’ll see you this summer. Wish me luck!"

Love,

Alex ==