Eddie Johnson hits back at Landon Donovan: 'You talk so much sh*t'

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FT Desk

Eddie Johnson had some harsh words for former USMNT team-mate Landon Donovan after the latter questioned the hype over youngster Cavan Sullivan.

The 17-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder is recognised as one of the top talents in the United States and has already secured a move to Premier League giants Manchester City when he turns 18.

However, Donovan played down his potential impact by comparing him to other youngsters who were once known as 'the next big thing' in US soccer.

“I am measured and calm because I, unlike a lot of new soccer fans, have seen this story happen over and over,” he said at a fan Q&A for the Unfiltered Soccer podcast.

“I saw it with Freddy Adu. I saw it with a guy you won’t even remember, Santino Quaranta. I saw it with Eddie Johnson. I saw it with Gio (Reyna) and see how it’s progressed.

“There will be the next superstar at some point. It might be Cavan. I’m hoping it’s Cavan, or maybe it’s Julian Hall.”

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Donovan did say he gets "excited" by Sullivan but one man who didn't take too kindly to his comments was Johnson, who took offence to being labelled as a player who perhaps did not live up to his potential.

“You talk so much sh*t about every other young upcoming player in the past but yourself lol,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

“Why don’t we talk about the 5 years you were in Germany and failed and ran back to MLS because you weren’t good enough? Why don’t we speak about this?

“One of the best players in our country failed in Europe early in his career, no one killed him but he’s killing all these young players that have done more than he ever has done in Europe.

“You played in a World Cup, I played in a World Cup. You played in a U-17 World Cup, U-20 World Cup, Olympics, I did the same.

“What makes you different than a kid from Bunnell, Florida? I did everything you did with fewer opportunities and still considered one of the best strikers this country has seen!!”

Donovan and Johnson were both prominent American forwards of the 2000s and 2010s, but their careers took quite different paths. Donovan became one of the defining players in US soccer history, while Johnson was a prolific MLS striker whose career was cut short by a heart condition.