'You would be foolish to leave that situation' – Former USMNT star Charlie Davies believes Johnny Cardoso should stay at Real Betis despite transfer interest

The retired striker has voiced strong support for Johnny Cardoso continuing his career at Real Betis especially if they qualify for European football

• Davies emphasizes importance of stability before World Cup
• He predicts Cardoso will reject transfer approaches
• American midfielder praised for doing well in La Liga

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  WHAT HAPPENED

  Following Johnny Cardoso’s third La Liga goal of the season against Girona earlier this week, the American midfielder is back in the news with many fans clamoring to see the 23-year-old in the USMNT squad. His form has also seen clubs from across Europe keep a close eye on his progress, with Tottenham reportedly leading the race as they have a clause from a previous deal. Former USMNT star Charlie Davies was among those to praise the American’s performances, especially his recent showing against Girona.

  “Johnny Cardoso. We have to talk about him now, at the moment,” Davies said on CBS Sports Golazo America when asked if any American player stands out for him. “[He's] 23 years old, killing it at Real Betis, another massive goal for him at the club, and he was near perfect on the ball. I think he’s really found a good role within this team, and Isco is the guy that makes this team tick, but in terms of being an outlet, and being able to shuttle the ball across, he has great positioning."

  He added, “He’s not the most aggressive ball-winner, but what he does do is he picks up second balls, he finds the right space, and he’s able to play forward. He’s always looking to play forwards and not backwards or play in that safe pass, so I really like his growth as he continues to get playing time in La Liga."

  He further expanded on the fact that he believes the midfielder should resist potential transfer interest if the Spanish club qualifies for either the UEFA Champions League or Europa League.

  “They’re [Real Betis] pushing into the Champions League, so if Real Betis are in the Champions League, maybe he’s not going anyway," Davis said. "We talked about him being looked at by Tottenham, but if I’m Johnny Cardoso, and we qualify to play in the Champions League next season, I’m not going anyway.

  “You’re playing in European competition, you’re in La Liga, but more importantly, you have a role under a manager who trusts and believes in you,” Davies continued to explain when asked if the Europa League counts. ”You’re not going anyway, you’re going to play. So from that standpoint alone, you talk about the year leading up to the World Cup, consistency and playing at such a high level at this moment, you would be foolish to leave that situation to go into an unknown or a wildcard in a year that means everything."

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• WHAT CHARLIE DAVIES SAID

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Cardoso represents a growing contingent of American players establishing themselves in Europe's top five leagues, creating both opportunities and difficult career decisions. His situation at Real Betis highlights the evolving perspective on player development, where consistent playing time at a stable club may outweigh the prestige of moving to traditionally bigger teams.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Real Betis continues their push for European qualification in the final stretch of La Liga, with Cardoso likely featuring prominently in their remaining fixtures. currently sit in sixth place on the La Liga table and are in pole position to finish in a European place. They face Real Valladolid on April 23 before they host Fiorentina in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semifinal.