Ex-Premier League Stars Sergio Aguero and Patrice Evra Share Why They Didn't Move to MLS

Sergio Aguero and Patrice Evra, two of the most decorated players in Premier League history, have revealed why moves to Major League Soccer never materialized late in their careers, even as the league’s reputation has shifted from a retirement destination to a competitive environment for prime and emerging talent.

Evra, who left Manchester United in 2014 after claiming five English top-flight titles and a Champions League crown, admitted that LA Galaxy expressed concrete interest once his Juventus tenure began winding down. “I remember LA Galaxy was interested in signing me, but it never crossed my mind,” the 81-times-capped France defender told Mirror U.S. Sports on behalf of Stake. Instead, Evra returned to familiar European surroundings, first with Marseille and later a brief stint at West Ham United. “I prefer football in Europe,” he explained. “I didn’t want to play just for money or fun; I wanted to win trophies still.”

The flashy lifestyle on offer in California did turn his head briefly. Evra recalled visiting longtime Premier League striker Robbie Keane—an MLS MVP and three-time MLS Cup winner with the Galaxy—at a match where fireworks greeted every goal. “What a life it would have been in L.A.,” Evra mused, noting Keane’s post-game retreat to a Malibu home. Ultimately, competitive ambition outweighed the lure of sun-soaked Saturdays.

For Aguero, a different set of circumstances intervened. After departing Manchester City in 2021 as the club’s all-time leading scorer, the Argentine forward joined Barcelona hoping to reunite with international teammate Lionel Messi and compete in the 2022 World Cup. A move to MLS, potentially alongside Messi at a future destination, figured into his longer-term thinking. “My idea at that time was to be at Barça, play in the Qatar World Cup, and then evaluate what to do next,” Aguero said. “Everyone knows what happened to me, and that didn’t end up happening.”

A cardiac arrhythmia discovered after only four appearances—and one goal—for Barcelona forced the 33-year-old into immediate retirement, cutting short any chance of a North American swansong. “Would I have liked to play in MLS? Playing alongside Leo at Inter Miami would have been nice,” Aguero acknowledged, “but that possibility never came up.”

While MLS has evolved into a league where players like Denis Bouanga and Heung-Min Son thrive in their prime, and youngsters such as Jhon Durán and Alphonso Davies use it as a springboard to Europe, Evra and Aguero’s reflections underscore that personal ambitions, timing, and unforeseen health issues can still redirect even the grandest career plans away from the American game.