The Florida native’s frustration at his relatively modest wages (players’ union documents list his guaranteed compensation at $106,333.33 and $156,333.33 over the past two years) relative to
his 23 goals and five assists over the past two seasons appears to have boiled over. Those close to the team offer tales of late appearances and lackadaisical efforts at training sessions, bitter disputes with head coach Sigi Schmid and rocky interactions with even those close to him.
“He’s the worst,” said one source with knowledge of Johnson’s situation who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the subject matter.
“For a guy who was [effectively] out of soccer two years ago and now has a chance to go to another World Cup, he’s simply the worst.”