Open tryouts lead to a couple of real prospects

The LA Galaxy recently held open tryouts that were critisized by some as something an amateur team would do.  It turns out to not be such a bad deal, they got 2 prospects from the tryouts that will be training with the team in the upcoming preseason schedule.

Rui Fortes, most recently with the Rhode Island Stingrays of the USL development league was one of the players that impressed Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop.  Rui is Portugeese, but his green card will make sure he does not count against the international player limit.

Laurent Merlin is the other player that impresses Yallop.  Merlin is a 22 year old Frenchman who came up in the Marseille youth system.  His age prevents him from counting towards the senior international player limit.

Good luck to both of them in the upcoming preseason.