What They're Saying: Steve Klein

• by Soccer America , Jan 3, 2019

"If we were a club that wasn't pay-to-play, it would be a whole different ball game. Our kids pay to play, so that's how we make our money. Now, we scholarship a lot of kids, but that's where the difference is for me a little bit. If we were one of those European clubs where everyone is free, or an MLS club where everyone is free, and signed him as a pro ... we're not even a pro club."

-- Steve Klein, the coaching director and academy director of PA Classics, on turning down solidarity payments estimated to exceed $500,000 as its share of the transfer fee for former academy player Christian Pulisic's move from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea. He said the club had made no decision on seeking compensation -- other claims are currently before FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber -- but he added that it was "90 percent 'no,' that it wouldn't move forward with any claims to try to "gain off of his success." (ESPN FC)