Real Sociedad star Carlos Vela has been turning down call-ups from multiple Mexico managers since early in 2011, but he's finally agreed to suit up for El Tri again. Shortly after Mexico announced that Vela was among those called up for November friendlies against the Netherlands and Belarus, manager Miguel Herrera tweeted that all of the players listed had accepted their call-ups.
Carlos Vela will accept Mexico call up for first time in 3 years
David Ramos
He didn’t single Vela out specifically, but simply said that ‘100 percent’ of the players called in had accepted.
De los convocados que militan en clubes europeos van todos, confirmados al 100%
— Miguel Herrera (@MiguelHerreraDT) October 29, 2014 Back in 2010, Vela was suspended due to his part in a party during a national team camp. He was called up for friendlies in 2011 following that suspension, but refused to join the Mexico squad for the 2011 Gold Cup -- which Mexico ultimately won -- and has been turning down call-ups ever since.
Before the 2014 World Cup, Herrera met with Vela and other star European-based Mexicans to gauge their commitment to the national side, as he decided who to add to the domestic-based squad he used in an intercontinental qualifying playoff against New Zealand. Ultimately, Vela was not one of the players added to the team after he admitted that Real Sociedad were still his top priority.
But La Real -- and Vela along with them -- have struggled this season. They’re 17th in La Liga and manager Jagoba Arrasate is rumored to be close to getting fired. Vela, who scored 21 goals last season and has reached double digits in each of his three years with Real Sociedad, has just one goal in eight appearances this season.
Meanwhile, Mexico's forward and wide options aren't so clear. Javier Aquino isn't first choice for Rayo Vallecano, nor is Giovani dos Santos for Villarreal, Raul Jimenez for Atlético Madrid or Javier Hernandez for Real Madrid. Many of Herrera's most consistent options for forward or wide players are now on the wrong side of 30, and won't be much use to him come the 2016 Copa America or World Cup qualifying.
When the 2011 Gold Cup rolled around, Mexico didn’t need Vela. From 2012 through the end of last season, Vela didn’t need them. But now they need each other, and it’s led to them finally coming back together.
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