Rogers Mato has revealed he was close to joining Sporting Kansas City before choosing to move to Hearts, insisting the decision was ultimately about control over his own future and loyalty to commitments already made.
The Uganda forward joined Hearts on loan from FK Vardar for the rest of the season and will sign a three year contract in the summer, but his arrival at Tynecastle came only after Vardar accepted a bid from the MLS side.
Mato said the proposed move to the United States was not one he wanted, despite interest from Sporting Kansas City and his club’s willingness to sell.
“They wanted to sell me there but no one decides your future,” Mato said.
“It’s you to decide your future and if you fail, you fail as you.”
Mato explained that his decision was shaped by earlier talks with Hearts and the way the move had been presented to him by the club’s manager, which made him unwilling to walk away from the agreement.
“I really liked how the manager proposed Hearts to me so that’s why I didn’t want to let them down,” he said.
“I gave them my trust to come here and they did everything for me to be here so I couldn’t let them down.
“Of course I gave them the trust and I had to show my loyalty to them.”
The 22 year old arrives in Scotland after a prolific spell in North Macedonia, where he scored 15 goals in 17 games for league leaders Vardar, and after representing Uganda at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He now joins a Hearts side leading the Scottish Premiership, having chosen to turn down a late MLS option in favour of a move he says felt right both professionally and personally.
