Once a Goat: Jonathan Bornstein transfer-listed in Mexico once again

Since leaving Chivas USA in 2010, Jonathan Bornstein’s professional career has withered away into the bowels of Mexican soccer. After signing with UANL Tigres, Bornstein rarely featured for the team. His only appearance in 2013 was in a CONCACAF Champions League matchup against the Seattle Sounders in March, and he has only featured in 10 matches total for Tigres since joining the team. His name has appeared on their transfer list at the end of every Clausura since he joined the team.

If not selected by another team during the (rather confusing) transfer draft, and there has been no news of a move within Liga MX at this point, Bornstein will have to decide between staying with Tigres and finding a team abroad. Should Bornstein look for a move back to MLS, the team he joins would be dictated by the Goats, who reacquired his rights earlier this year through a trade with the Portland Timbers, which involved the departure of Ben Zemanski. He told MLS Soccer that he was happy to have his rights sent back to Chivas USA, as he would enjoy playing in his hometown and in front of his family. I do wonder, though, that if he does decide to come back to MLS, whether or not Chivas USA would even keep him around. His salary would not be the smallest (as a point of reference, his salary was $100,000 in his final season with Chivas) and we have seen what Jorge Vergara has done with other expensive players this season. It is very likely that they would use his contract as more transfer fodder.

Do you think Bornstein should come back to Chivas USA? Would Vergara and Co. even retain his rights should he come back, or trade him for cash as they’ve been doing with so many other players? Let us know in the comments below.