Canadian Player of the Year De Rosario wants to put “another star” on D.C. United jersey

Dwayne De Rosario hasn’t signed a new contract with D.C. United, but he strongly hinted that he is about to pledge his future to the MLS club. De Rosario, named the Canadian male Player of the Year for the fourth time in his career, spoke to the media Wednesday morning. And the reigning MLS MVP said he will be meeting with D.C. United’s ownership and management in the middle of the month to discuss a new deal. “I’m happy with D.C.,” said De Rosario. “It’s a rich club with a rich history. My goal is to put another star on the jersey.” De Rosario signed a two-year deal with Toronto FC in 2009, which called for two additional option years. But De Rosario has made it clear that he wants a new deal — and after an MVP season which saw him lead MLS with 16 goals, his case is strong. And his case was made all the much stronger when the New England Revolution gave veteran midfielder Shalrie Joseph a DP last week. But DeRo made all the right moves with the media. He spoke about wanting D.C. United to make the playoffs in 2012, and how he was excited over the club’s young prospects. De Rosario played for three teams — Toronto FC, the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United — in 2011. Despite the uncertain contract situation and the upheavals, he enjoyed a massive season which saw him bag three MLS Player of the Week titles and tie Dale Mitchell’s all-time mark of 19 goals for the Canadian national side. “Some things you can control and some thins you can’t control,” said De Rosario. “But I can control the energy I put on the field.” But he does have his critics. Message boards are jammed with fans who claim that he puts himself ahead of his teams. There’s a small-but-vocal section of Toronto FC fans wh haven’t forgiven De Rosario for his mock cheque-signing gesture after he scored goal in 2010 against San Jose. De Rosario hears them. He knows about them. He doesn’t shut them out. “There are always going to be people who like you and don’t like you,” he said. “There are people who understand you and don’t understand you… People are going to say what they are going to say but, at the end of the day, you can’t question my effort.” And that effort begins this month, when he heads to Jamaica to train in the hot weather. De Rosario will turn 34 during the 2012 season, but he hasn’t put an expiry date on his career. He wants to be part of a Canadian team that makes the World Cup. “I want to stay in top shape and see out that dream,” he said. And, what will help him see out that dream is an improved Canadian squad for the next round of World Cup qualifiers. While he admitted that “everything is just talks right now,” he is excited at the prospect that Jonathan de Guzman, currently at Villarreal, is looking to repatriate himself to the Canadian cause. Julian de Guzman’s younger brother had got a Dutch passport, but has now started to make a move back towards playing for Canada. “I know for Julian, it would be a dream come true,” said De Rosario. “These players are the future of Canadian soccer. His ability can only help us. It creates more fighting for positions, a more intense training environment. The votes from media members and coaches were overwhelmingly in De Rosario’s favour. After the ballots were counted, De Rosario had secured 47.7 per cent of the vote, a massive number with such a wide field. Simeon Jackson, whose goal-scoring spurt helped Norwich City earn promotion to the English Premier League, finished in second place with 20.7 per cent of the vote, less than half of De Rosario’s winning total. RELATED: De Rosario makes history with MVP nod (CLICK) De Rosario looks forward to contract talks with D.C. United (CLICK)