Mexican midfield prospect eager to hone skill with Barca

Jonathan Dos Santos has a tough decision to make this summer.

Does the 21-year-old midfielder, a product of Barcelona's famed La Masia Academy, return for the final year of his contract with UEFA Champions League winner FC Barcelona after spending much of the past two seasons playing on Barca's B team? Or does he force a transfer to another professional squad where he'd figure to get more playing time?

It's the equivalent of being a top Major League Baseball prospect with the shot to play every day with the Royals or Mariners or being a reserve on a team like the Yankees or Phillies.

Dos Santos, considered one of the rising stars on Mexico's Sub-22 squad that lost 3-0 to Venezuela's national team in a friendly on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium, says he has decided to return to Spain despite the fact Barca, led by the world's top player, Lionel Messi, has arguably the world's best collection of midfielders, including David Villa, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

"I don't want to move" from Barcelona, Dos Santos, who played in four games with the big club last season, told an interpreter. "I have one more year left on my contract, and I'm happy to be playing for one of the best teams in the world."

It's a strategy that differs from older brother Giovani, a star on Mexico's national team who had two goals in his country's 5-0 Gold Cup win over Cuba on Thursday night in Charlotte, N.C.

Giovani Dos Santos left Barca three years ago to sign with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League.

"I'm still very young," Jonathan Dos Santos said. "I'm very happy I was a part of that team."

Besides, Saturday marked the two-week anniversary of Barca's impressive 3-1 drubbing of EPL champion Manchester United at London's Wembley Stadium.

"It was a very tough game," said Dos Santos, who didn't play but attended the game. "To get the win made it very rewarding."

He believes practicing against the likes of Messi, Villa, Iniesta and Xavi every day will prove beneficial down the road.

"I'm glad that I'm getting a chance to learn from the best players in the world," said Dos Santos, who has scored three goals in 50 games over two years with Barcelona's B team. "I think it is going to help me grow in my career."

Saturday night marked the sixth appearance Dos Santos made with the Mexico U-22 national team, which will play in Copa America later this summer. However, it's possible he could be called up to play with his brother on El Tri's main national squad soon.

Defending Gold Cup champion Mexico suspended five players, including midfielders Sinha and Christian Bermudez, before its win over Cuba because they tested positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol. Mexico is appealing the test results and also waiting for CONCACAF officials to rule whether the five players can be replaced for further Gold Cup matches.

"They can call anybody up," Dos Santos said. "I haven't heard anything. If they call me up, that would be great."

■ NOTES -- Venezuela had goals by midfielder Alejandro Guerra (25-yarder in the 13th minute), striker Daniel Arismendi (breakaway in the 64th minute) and defender Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (header in stoppage time).

The first half featured a minor skirmish between Mexico midfielder Javier Cortes and Venezuela defender Juan Fuenmayor, who both departed the game after being red-carded. Cortes appeared to head-butt Fuenmayor to start the fracas. About 40 cups and bottles of beverage rained down from the stands during the altercation.

Dos Santos, who received a loud ovation from the crowd of about 12,000 when he was introduced to start the second half, just missed scoring his first international goal when Venezuela goalie Daniel Hernandez dived and barely deflected his 40-yarder that would have tied it at 1-1 in the 54th minute.