Reggie Cannon has opened up on his spell at cash-strapped Portuguese side Boavista, saying that he was only paid on time once in three years with the club.
The U.S. national team right back joined Boavista from FC Dallas in 2020, and spent three seasons with the club before leaving at the end of the most recent campaign.
Though his contract was set to run through 2025, Cannon said in an interview with ESPN’s “Futbol Americas” that he is currently a free agent because he had “unilateral just cause to terminate my contract.”
The 25-year-old expanded on why he had the ability to leave the club early, confirming reports that Boavista struggled to pay players and staff on time.
“In Portugal in the past three years, I’ve only been paid on time once,” Cannon said. “And it’s been difficult for the players, it’s been difficult for the staff. It just came out that the staff was behind payments for six months.
“This situation has been very difficult for me and my family. Every time I went back, I didn’t have my visa sorted and I would have to wait six hours in the airport. The tax situation wasn’t sorted — I mean, I can just go on and on and on.
“I have nothing but respect for the amazing fans of Boavista, for everyone I played with, the coaches I played for. It’s been honestly very difficult because I felt the passion, I felt the energy of the club and it was just a difficult thing to have to leave on the basis of free agency having just cause, because there’s just been so many things that have gone wrong.”
Cannon said that he’s now free to sign with any team. After impressing with Boavista while playing both right back and center back, he’ll have no shortage of suitors.
“I am currently a free agent,” he said. “I had unilateral just cause to terminate my contract. And so hopefully there’s going to be some exciting news in the coming days.”
The former FC Dallas man said at this time, a return to MLS isn’t in the cards.
“I currently want to stay in Europe,” he said. “I still have much more to give and I genuinely feel that I can make it to the top, and that’s just coming from my desire, my hunger. It’s honestly about being in a good situation. At Boavista I was playing out of position, obviously difficult conditions to play in. So I’m very excited for this next move, wherever that may be. I’m open to anything.”
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