Unlike Herculez Gomez, who has recently stated that he is "...enjoying the ride [for] now [and] just having fun," Carlos Bocanegra has given sure signs that he wants to return to the United States.

The former USMNT captain has not played a match for his country since last December, proving that Jurgen Klinsmann was not kidding when he told him to leave his club in Scotland if he wanted a spot on the USMNT roster. The 33-year old did leave the Rangers but only on loan to a second division Argentine club, Racing Santander. The move to a low tier club was not what Klinsmann had in mind but constant action and the heart that Bocanegra displays on any team, should be enough to earn him his spot back on the USMNT squad.

About a month ago, Bocanegra used his personal Twitter account to tell the world his desire to go back and play in Scotland for the Rangers. After being relegated to the third division however, Bocanegra started looking for a way out of his contract that runs until the end of the 2013/14 season.

Lyle Yorks, Bocanegra's agent, recently told MLSsoccer.com that many clubs are interested in the services of the American, saying, "There's interest in MLS, England and a few clubs on the continent. We're looking at his options." The best option for Bocanegra also happens to be the best option for the USMNT, a return to the MLS. Klinsmann has recently told the press that his squad for the upcoming Gold Cup would be all MLS, so if Bocanegra dreams of playing for his country again, then he should know where to go.

If Carlos Bocanegra decides to return to Major League Soccer, many other Americans abroad would follow the example of the captain. Instead of taking their talents to European leagues or Liga MX, American players would return home to continue what David Beckham started for them. Playing in Europe is the glamorous thing to do in soccer but trends change and if USMNT players like Gomez and DaMarcus Beasley help out Bocanegra by also joining the MLS, attendance would spike like in the Beckham era.

Most USMNT players started their careers in the MLS so returning to the U.S. would seem like a step back in their career but they must realize that times have changed and that they will keep changing. The MLS will keep gaining more fans than ever before and the salaries of the players will increase to match the wages of other top leagues. The NBA, MLB and NFL are ongoing proof of the huge market that lies in sports in the United States, and if American players sleep on an opportunity to help their sport grow in their country, then the MLS will fail to meet their goal.

With the success that American players have found outside of the U.S., it will be nearly impossible for names like Howard, Dempsey, and Bradley to return to the MLS but if the MLS is good enough for Beckham and Thierry Henry, then a near future full of USMNT/MLS stars is not just a dream.

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