La Selecta midfielder Jaime Alas returns to El Salvador, remains confident of transfer to San Jose Earthquakes

Following a nearly week-long trial with the San Jose Earthquakes, Salvadoran international Jaime Alas returned to his domestic club team Luis Ángel Firpo and now awaits word of whether he will make the move to Major League Soccer. Upon returning to El Salvador late Friday night, the 22-year old midfielder featured for Firpo less than 24 hours later and scored the first goal in their 2-1 domestic league victory over CD Universidad de El Salvador. Jaime’s older brother Dennis Alas netted the late game winner for Firpo.

Following the match on Saturday, Alas conducted a sweeping interview that touched on his recent trial with the Earthquakes. Among the more interesting comments from the midfielder were the claims that he was very close to securing a contract with San Jose and that he expected to join the Earthquakes ahead of their preseason trip to Portland next week. When asked for clarification on Alas’ comments, a representative of the Earthquakes was unable to provide any further information.

If Alas were to be transferred to the Earthquakes — he reportedly has two years remaining on his current contract and Firpo have stated they would pursue a sale rather than a loan agreement with MLS for the midfielder — he would take the last available International Player spot on the 2012 roster and bump the number of players under contract to twenty-seven. Alas would also become the fourth Salvadoran international all-time to wear an Earthquakes uniform, joining fellow countrymen Ronald Cerritos (2005), Arturo Alvarez (2008) and Ramon Sanchez (2009) as players to wear the Blue-and Black of San Jose.

Highlights of Alas' goal for Firpo against UES on Saturday, February 18: