Michael Bradley open to winter loan to Serie A

There were a lot of shocked people around the American soccer world when news leaked out that Michael Bradley would be leaving Serie A stalwarts AS Roma for MLS outfit Toronto FC.

Even though Bradley's long term future appears to be set in Toronto, the United States Men's National Team captain isn't ruling out a winter loan back to Serie A, a league that he admits to missing even more than his Italian teammate Sebastian Giovinco.

"I would return for a couple of months if there was the [right] opportunity," he stated. "But I'm fine as well in Toronto. I don't need to leave, but life is a journey in stages. When I left Rome in 2014, six months before the World Cup, I needed to play and [Rudi] Garcia thought better of the other midfielders.

"Toronto showed me their project and asked me to be their team leader. In these two years, I have grown as a player and as a man.

"I never made decisions related to money. I love football and my family follows me everywhere I go. What made me choose Toronto was their consideration for me, not the money."

-Michael Bradley; Source: Gazzetta World

It's a diplomatic reaction to say he didn't come back to MLS for the money. The fact remains that he was being pushed out of the door at Roma by new signing Radja Nainggolan and the offers from other European clubs just weren't flying in. Anyone in his shoes being offered a chance to provide financial security for their family for life would jump at the opportunity.

It would be great to see Bradley go back to Europe and specifically Serie A, a league that fits his play style perfectly, to see how he stacks up against the best players in the world again. However, perhaps a winter of rest would be more beneficial to his form and fitness for the USMNT's sake.