McCarty staying mum on trade to Fire, focusing on long-awaited U.S. opportunity

Dax McCarty tells Goal he is focused on his U.S. national team return right now rather than his surprising trade to the Chicago Fire.

CARSON, Calif. — Well after his teammates had walked off the practice field at StubHub Center, Dax McCarty sprinted back and forth on a muddy field, all alone. Just days removed from his wedding, McCarty was still working off the rust of Saturday's nuptials, and getting his fitness up for the challenge of trying to impress U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena.

"It's unbelievable to be back with the national team," McCarty told Goal. "It's all MLS guys, everyone I know, former teammates, current competitors, we're all a close-knit community. It's been a little while, so it's just a great opportunity to show myself and see if there's anyway I can help the team and bring my qualities to the team."

McCarty has a lot on his mind these days. Along with having just tied the knot, and having returned to the U.S. national team for the first time since 2014, McCarty is still trying to process the shock trade that sent him from the New York Red Bulls to the Chicago Fire in exchange for $400,000 in allocation money. McCarty didn't want to discuss the details of his departure from the Red Bulls, but did express his appreciation for the visit paid to him by Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic and GM Nelson Rodriguez, who flew into Los Angeles to speak with their new midfielder.

"I thanked them a lot for coming out and visiting with me, that was a really classy thing of those guys to do, and I thanked them in person, and it was a good conversation that we had," McCarty said. "I'm still processing everything, trying to digest the kind of whirlwind it has been. The wedding was incredible, literally everything was perfect, then to be able to come into camp, and be able to play, that's all I'm focused on, trying to do my best for the national team. I think after all the dust settles, and I have a little bit more time to reflect on my time at Red Bull I'll probably be prepared to talk about it more."

Sources tell Goal that McCarty was blindsided by the trade, not learning about it until the morning it was announced when Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch paid him a visit at U.S. camp to tell him in person. McCarty had no idea he was being shopped around the league, not after establishing himself as one of the league's best midfielders and the Red Bulls captain, so it does make sense that he would want to take some time before sharing his thoughts on the trade.
McCarty doesn't have to go far in camp to be reminded of the team he is no longer a part of. Red Bulls playmaker Sacha Kljestan is also in U.S. camp, and goalkeeper Luis Robles is McCarty's roommate in camp.