Juninho And Leonardo Return To the LA Galaxy

Leonardo was always going to return to the LA Galaxy in 2012, but the Galaxy have settled their long-term future with the defender now too, signing the Brazilian permanently from Sao Paulo after having him in 2010 and 2011 on a pair of one-year loans. The Leonardo news comes on the same day that the Galaxy also signed Juninho on another one-year loan from Sao Paulo, making them the clear favorites to win MLS Cup 2012 and defend their league title.

With Omar Gonzalez possibly out for the entire season as he recovers from a torn ACL, Leonardo is going to be crucial to the Galaxy's success in 2012. The problem is that Leonardo is recovering from a torn ACL of his own and Bruce Arena has acknowledged that he won't be 100% healthy until April. As good as Leonardo may have looked at times, he still has just 17 appearances in two years for LA so their security in the center of defense is far from assured.

The permanent signing of Leonardo also gives LA some badly needed youth at central defense. Take away the unproven rookies and you have a young A.J. DeLaGarza and Gonzalez, but the rest of the Galaxy central defenders are in their 30's. Getting the 23-year-old Leonardo signed long-term instead of on another one-year loan gives LA some stability in the defense for the future.

The strong are getting stronger in MLS as the LA Galaxy have secured the services of Juninho for the 2012 season. The defending MLS Cup champions thought they were going to lose the midfielder after Sao Paulo wanted him back after two one-year loans with the Galaxy in 2010 and 2011, but Juninho apparently failed to impress with the Brazilian club and he will now return to Los Angeles for the 2012 season on another one-year loan.

Juninho was one of the most underrated players in the league the last two years, doing much of the dirty work in the midfield so David Beckham was free to roam and spray the ball around the field. LA had moved to replace Juninho earlier in the offseason by signing Marcelo Sarvas and now that Juninho is returning, Bruce Arena will have plenty of options in the midfield.

With Juninho returning, the Galaxy are now uber favorites to defend their MLS Cup title in 2012. The signing of Edson Buddle last week to pair with Robbie Keane up top already made them favorites, but now there is no doubt. It won't be easy for the Galaxy though, even with their additions. Omar Gonzalez will miss most, if not all, of the season with a torn ACL and they will have to deal with the expectations and extra matches from MLS, U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League.