Insider Notes: Ronaldo prefers LA in '18; Seattle makes Morris new offer

You might recall my recent report that Cristiano Ronaldo’s current plan is to join an MLS team when his Real Madrid contract expires in 2018. Well, I’ve learned

You might recall my recent report that Cristiano Ronaldo’s current plan is to join an MLS team when his Real Madrid contract expires in 2018. Well, I’ve learned that Ronaldo has now decided the city where he wants to be: Los Angeles.

It could be the Galaxy or LAFC, and while talks have yet to take place between Ronaldo and any MLS teams, L.A. is Ronaldo’s preferred destination. Meanwhile, I’m told it’s looking more likely every day that LAFC won’t start play until 2018. That means we could see Ronaldo debut for a new team in a new stadium that year.

Keep in mind, too, that MLS commissioner Don Garber has already said if LAFC doesn’t start until 2018, Minnesota United, which MLS originally announced would begin play in 2018, would enter the league in 2017 with Atlanta.

Here are a couple of other items from around U.S. Soccer:

Sounders make first written offer to Morris

Subject of debate, Jordan Morris content to let actions do his talking

Jordan Morris has had a busy week. Last Wednesday the Stanford sophomore started and scored for the U.S. senior team against Mexico. This week he’s set to play for the U.S. Under-23 team tonight against Mexico.

And in the last 24 hours I’ve learned that Morris has received a contract offer from the Seattle Sounders that is one of the most lucrative offers ever for an MLS homegrown player.

Morris has turned down verbal interest before from Seattle, which owns his MLS rights, but this is the first time the Sounders have offered him a written contract. While there’s a chance that foreign teams could get involved, I’m told Seattle is confident Morris will sign with them at some point—his father, Michael, has been the Sounders team doctor for years—though the most likely scenario doesn’t have Morris joining Seattle until 2016.

• STRAUS: Morris turns Alamodome into field of dreams

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Captain Carli?

It kind of snuck up on everyone, but Carli Lloyd has been the U.S. women’s captain for three of the last four games and may continue that role during the World Cup.

Unlike men, U.S. women's World Cup roster lacks shocks, surprises

The U.S. armband has usually been worn by Christie Rampone and Abby Wambach, but Rampone has been out injured and Wambach hasn’t been starting much recently. Lloyd told me she’s honored to wear the armband whenever asked, and she’s ready for that responsibility if need be in Canada.

She also said she’s happy to be back in her natural habitat in the central midfield after playing out wide for a stretch, adding: “That’s where I can make more of an impact and do what I need to do.”

• NEWCOMB: New USWNT home kit goes with all-white look

While Lloyd had a solid World Cup in 2011, she says people remember your last play, and hers was missing a penalty kick in the World Cup final. As a result, she says she now has unfinished business to take care of in Canada.