Houston Dynamo admit they would have loved to have seen Clint Dempsey return to his native Texas.
The 30-year old USA international recently signed a lucrative contract with Seattle Sounders but Dynamo players and coaches would've been delighted if the Nacogdoches native had turned out in a Houston shirt.
Ahead of Seattle's trip to BBVA Compass Stadium this weekend, Dynamo skipper Brad Davis admits having Dempsey in his squad would be a thrill.
"He's played at a high level for a long time and is arguably the best player to come out of the US," he said. "I would've loved to have him on our team, but even if he's not, I think it's a fantastic move for the league."
And Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear was treading with caution, knowing that you can never really expect what the spectacular yet enigmatic Dempsey can pull off on match day.
"He's unpredictable. That's always been his strength," Kinnear said. "I think doing something that's not normal at times is one of his biggest strengths.
"The good story is he's coming back at a good age with the World Cup coming next year."
