Bautista excited to train with Galaxy

CARSON, Calif. -- It didn't take long for Los Angeles Galaxy defender Leo Bautista to like what he saw of southern California.

Bautista, on trial from Caracas FC, one of the most popular clubs in South America and a winner of nine Venezuelan national league titles, went to Universal Studios after he arrived in Los Angeles last month. From there it was on to the Kodak Theater, annual site of the Oscars. Then it was over for a look at the Santa Monica pier.

If that wasn't enough to get him to smile, all he has to do is look out from his hotel room and view the Pacific Ocean to know he is in a special place.

Yes, he's far from home, but he could get used to this.

"It's great having this experience," he said through an interpreter. "It's been fabulous so far."

The 25-year-old Bautista, a 6-foot-3, 175-pounder, played two years at Caracas FC after previous stops at Deportivo Italchacao and Estrella Roja. He said he'd always been a fan of MLS because of two fellow countrymen already in the league: Alejandro Moreno of the Columbus Crew and Jorge Rojas of the New York Red Bulls. And when the opportunity to come to North America became viable, Bautista didn't think twice about making the move.

He said four teams -- Real Salt Lake, New York, Columbus and the Galaxy -- were interested in him, with Los Angeles apparently showing the most interest.

Bautista said he had been hoping to play in the States for some time.

"For any player on any team, it's very important on a personal and professional level to go out and play abroad," he said. "When this opportunity came up, I was very interested.

"With the grace of God, hopefully the coaches will like what they see."

Galaxy head coach/general manager Bruce Arena said he has been impressed with the newcomer, but he isn't quite sold on him yet. Arena, however, did say Bautista will be in camp for an "extended period of time."

"Like all foreign players," Arena said, "there's a little transition period. They have to come into this league and environment and see how the game is played here. You have to adapt to a new culture and a new game.

"He's made progress. You want to see him move forward day in and day out, and I think he's been fairly steady. I think in the new few weeks we'll be seeing a lot more out of him."

Bautista said life has been a little less hectic since he arrived in southern California. Venezuela, he said, wasn't as soccer-crazy as, say, some European countries, but he still could walk the streets of Caracas and people occasionally would recognize him.

"It's not like England. No, no, no," he said with a smile. "But you get your moments."

On one occasion, he recalled, he was at a restaurant with his parents when the child of a family sitting nearby recognized him. The boy, Bautista said, had been following his career since before his days with Caracas FC.

"There was plenty of passion among the supporters," Bautista said.

He said he would love to get the opportunity to witness that same kind of passion in Los Angeles, and getting a chance to do it while living in southern California would be the ultimate. He isn't ready to go back home.

"I'm very happy I came here," he said. "If I told you my country was similar to this, I'd be lying. The streets are clean, people respect laws ... it's just spectacular. I would stay here. I've fallen in love with the city."