Sporting Kansas City waited a year for Jorge Claros to be available on their terms. Seven months later, they decided the Honduran international and World Cup veteran hadn't done enough to make himself worth the wait.
“That wasn't his choice. That was our choice,” manager Peter Vermes told reporters in a conference call on Wednesday, after Sporting parted ways with two defensive midfielders – Claros and Haitian international James Marcelin – earlier this week.
Nearly two weeks after criticizing USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann for his statements regarding players' fitness levels during the recent USMNT January camp, Vermes revealed that the Claros decision was motivated in part by fitness.
“He didn't come into camp fit, after being here for six months – knowing what we expect – and just wasn't good enough," Vermes said. “We're not waiting around for someone who couldn't figure out what we're trying to do, and so it was time for him to move on because he wasn't the right fit for us.”
Claros, who has since landed with Chinese side Qingdao Jonoon, signed last July after his contract with Honduran side Motagua expired. Sporting had tried to acquire him the year before, but Motagua would not let him go without a transfer fee that was too high for Vermes' liking.
Claros appeared in 12 games across all competitions for Sporting last season and had been expected to be a first-choice favorite coming into 2015 after Lawrence Olum asked to be let out of his contract so he could join Malaysian side Kedah FA.
Instead, the 2014 World Cup and 2012 Olympic teammate of Sporting midfielder Roger Espinoza found himself on the outs with his manager – and out of a job in Kansas City.
“It's up to [players] to try and understand what the expectations are here, what the standards are,” Vermes said. “And if you're not meeting them, there's another guy to come in and take your place. And unfortunately, that was the situation in regard to him and his position with the club.”
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Vermes said Marcelin, who signed in December, would not have competed for a starting job this year after the subsequent acquisitions of Servando Carrasco and fellow Haitian international Soni Mustivar.
“There's a high level of competition within the team right now,” he said, “and if you're not there meeting the standard, there are so many guys in front of you that we can't keep you on the roster.”
Vermes said he has not yet settled on a first-choice d-mid for Sporting's season opener, set for March 8 against the New York Red Bulls.
“Right now we're playing different lineups,” he said. “It'll come when the season gets here. When we play our first game, we'll see how we're going to play.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
