Still don't think it was his best move. For example you have Valencia who departed with Soler and effectively replaced him with two former teammates- Nico and Ilaix. And I think for the role that Soler played, Puig is the best offensive mid of the trio.
It's an unusual move but it actually makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't say the same for other MLS teams (i.e. Orlando, Columbus, Cincinnati) but Los Angeles has a lot going for it, in terms of Puig's lifetime career:
1) What Puig said is true— MLS is going to continue to improve and will likely be as good as top European leagues eventually. The US has all the financial resources to do so, more generations of kids are growing up playing soccer as the norm (non-existent during my childhood and teen years, unless you were a rich white boy who went to east coast private schools). Puig has already set himself up as an ambassador for this evolution. When his playing days are done, he'll find himself in a very good position to bring the US further into the global soccer community.
2) Guaranteed starter. The coach believes in him. Puig is already starting to give directions on the pitch.
3) Already developing an adoring fan base, both in Los Angeles and among MLS fans in general. He's responsible for taking 5 points out of the 3 full matches he's played, including memorable moments in all 3 games. Los Angeles is a massive multicultural city with folks from all around the globe. You can bet he'll get endorsement deals here he wouldn't get playing in Europe.
4) It's Los Angeles. You want connections, this is one of the places to be.
Compare this to being a rotation player on some better European team or even a regular player on some lower or mid-table team. Sure, the leagues/opponents are more difficult, but so what? What does it get him? He's 23. The top of most players' careers is their mid to late 20s. If he stays in Los Angeles through his full 3 year contract, he'll be 26 heading to his next team for his prime years.
