Ruiz says he's happy with Union

C ARLOS RUIZ is sick of it.

Sick of the rumors, sick of the "gossip," sick of being asked the same question.

For the last several weeks, his name has been associated with transfer rumors to various clubs in Mexico, the latest a report from D Poder A Poder, an online magazine that claimed second-division club Veracruz has footed the bill for Ruiz' buyout and is awaiting MLS' OK to send Ruiz off.

Admittedly, I drank from the cup of speculation. It's not as if Ruiz or the Union made it easy not to. Despite saying he isn't going anywhere, the missed practices, intensified playing time and recent respite on the club's trip to San Jose kept my eyebrows raised. But I have been assured this week by the technical staff that Ruiz has an "ironclad contract," and that the Union has "no desire to transfer or even listen to talks of a transfer" for the 31-year-old forward.

As for Ruiz, he used "Union Meeting" to set the record straight after practice Wednesday:

Union Meeting: You were absent from the team's lineup last week in San Jose. The technical staff said it was because you needed a rest. Did you agree with this idea?

Carlos Ruiz: It was the coaching staff's idea, and it was good. I got a chance to relax and recharge my batteries. Now I am ready to play the second half of the season.

(Note: Ruiz has logged 360 minutes of a total 1,071 this season since returning from Gold Cup duty with Guatemala at the end of June.)

UM: How annoying is it week in and week out to see your name in the Mexican press stating your desire to leave this club?

CR: To be honest with you, I never read anything on the Internet, and I try to be away from what the media says, but, honestly, this thing about me leaving Philadelphia has gotten crazy. I don't know who has started this gossip, but I am going to say this again: I am not moving anywhere, I am very happy in Philly, all my family is coming in 2 weeks to stay with me, so this is not a chance to leave this city."

UM: The report from [D Poder A Poder] says it's actually your family that's not thrilled with the idea of coming here. What do you say to that?