Former Gotham FC player Esther González might be caught in a lie

It has been less than a month since Esther González left NJ/NY Gotham FC. The forward and the club mutually agreed to part ways, and the reason given was due to personal reasons, and she had to return to Spain. She said she was stepping away from football.

While fans knew there was a possibility that she would eventually leave after Sam Kerr's signing, it was not expected that she would leave like that. There was hope that the two forwards would trade off in scoring goals, but fans did not get to see that.

Instead, Gotham FC supporters were blindsided right before the Angel City FC match on Sunday. It was announced that González is already with a new club, as she has signed with Al-Qadsiah Saudi Women's Football Club. This is a shocking development, and there is so much to unpack here. But first, there is the big question: did the Spanish international lie?

Esther González blindsided Gotham FC fans

From the press release when she left Gotham FC and González's Instagram post, it really seemed like the player needed to return to Spain. Many assumed that it might have to do with family. There was the assumption that she would be away from the beautiful game for a little while. It would have made sense if her future club was in Spain.

But now, those assumptions have gone out the window. By signing with a new team in Saudi Arabia, which is about an 11-hour flight from Madrid, makes it look like she lied. Did she really need to leave due to personal reasons? Or did she want the easiest way out of Gotham?

It does appear that the club did not expect this. Per Jenna Tonelli, sources have said that the former player's signing was unexpected, since they did not think she would sign with a new club less than a month after leaving her old one. In other words, it seems the Bats truly did believe that she had to leave due to personal reasons.

Maybe González was threatened by Kerr, but she should not have been. After all, there was a chance that the two would play with one another in the starting lineup. Surely, the coaching staff would have found a way, especially since the Spaniard was starting to score goals again.

In addition, if family is so important to González, then why did she sign with a club in Saudi Arabia? It is not likely that the teams are giving high salaries to their women's sides as they are doing for players on the men's teams. Also, it is Saudi Arabia. While there has been improvement when it comes to women's rights, there are still restrictions.

Then, the striker is gay. In Saudi Arabia, same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can be punishable by death. González has a partner and a child. Are they going to stay in Spain? What happened to being there for her family?

Listen, the striker was loved by the Gotham FC supporters. But now, it looks like that relationship might be fired into the sun and beyond repair. It does not matter whether González meant to lie, because the optics look poor. Lying to get out of a contract, and then not even signing with a club in Spain, is something that might keep her from being invited back to the NJ/NY team for future events or NWSL Championship anniversaries.

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