Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 8y

Philadelphia Union's Tranquillo Barnetta open to St Gallen return

Philadelphia Union midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta is contemplating a return to his hometown club St Gallen.

"I always wanted to return, but the question is if now is the right time," Barnetta told St Galler Tagblatt.

Barnetta, 31, is the club captain at MLS side Philadelphia Union and has contributed five goals as his team chase their first playoff appearance since 2011.

However, the Switzerland international, who joined as a free agent from Schalke in 2015, could leave the United States after the season with his contract expiring amid an offer from his hometown club St Gallen.

"I'm glad the Americans are fairly relaxed about it. The delay does not bother them," Barnetta said on so far not prolonging his contract.

"On the one hand the focus is on the run-in of the regular season and they are also not as foresighted as the Europeans," he said, adding that living in Philadelphia in the past 18 months had been exactly what he had been looking for.

However, the midfielder said that he is unsure if he will return to St Gallen, the club he left for Bayer Leverkusen as a 19-year-old in 2004.

He said: "It will not be easy, and I don't know what happens. I am in top shape, and always wanted to return to St Gallen in top shape. The question is if now is the right time?"

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