Italian, Spanish Clubs Courting Mastroeni

Overseas interest in Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni is at an all-time high right now, with two possible countries emerging as his most likely destination for next year: Spain and Italy.Mastroeni has always spoken of his desire to ply his trade in Europe before he calls it a career. Italian club Cagliari has expressed interest in the US international midfielder in the past, as have several Serie B clubs, but the newest teams to enter the hunt are reportedly Spain's Malaga and Real Betis.

"We are just keeping the doors open and seeing what comes at the end of November," Mastroeni recently told local blog wewantrapidman. "I think it's going to be a question of five possibilities and picking what we think is right."

Mastroeni, 32, is an 11-year veteran of MLS, breaking into the league in 1998 with the now-defunct Miami Fusion as the 13th overall draft selection that year. After 100 appearances in south Florida, he joined the Rapids in 2002 and has gone on to make 127 appearances for the club since then. His MLS résumé also includes 23 postseason appearances and five selections to the All-Star team, including in each of the past two seasons.

"There's a level of comfort playing in the MLS," Mastroeni continued. "The pressure is not there to win or lose. You can go to the supermarkets, hang out at the park, enjoy your Sundays playing Frisbee with your friends. If you go to Europe, it's not like that. Everything is cutthroat. If you're not winning, you better be focusing on the next opportunity. Soccer is so much more part of everyday life."

Internationally, Mastroeni has earned over 60 caps for the US Men's National Team. He was part of the surprising 2002 squad that reached the quarterfinals, and memorably got sent off in the 2006 World Cup in the United States' 1-1 tie against Italy.