Fire signs Uruguayan midfielder at deadline
Now that the Chicago Fire has completed a deal for Arevalo Rios, the club has to find a roster spot and salary-cap room for its new holding midfielder.
Fire officials were delaying any official announcement of the signing until they can open an international roster spot for the Uruguayan.
Backup goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi expects to get his green card but not for another month or two. It’s more likely the Fire will transfer Dutch forward Sherjill MacDonald to a European club to open an international spot and salary-cap space while waiting for Rios to receive his visa and International Transfer Certificate. The club is expected to transfer reserve forward Maicon Santos to a club in Israel to help clear up salary-cap space for Rios.
The Fire filled its last open international roster spots last month when it signed backup left back Shaun Francis of Jamaica and forward Juan Luis Anangono of Ecuador.
Rios also is expected to miss some MLS matches this fall when 2014 World Cup qualifying resumes. He trained with his new teammates for the first time Friday.
The Fire is not looking to trade a player in exchange for an international roster spot, said Fire president of soccer operations Javier Leon.
The Fire started looking at Rios, a 31-year-old holding midfielder, two years ago when he was playing in Mexico, Leon said. When Rios transferred to Palermo in Italy’s Serie A, Leon suspected they might never see him again.
Rios had other ideas.
He and the Fire re-established a connection in June, but the deal to make Rios a designated player in MLS just came together this week, barely completing the paperwork before the MLS secondary transfer window closed Thursday, Leon said, admitting to being surprised the deal came together so quickly.
“The fact that he wanted to come to Chicago and play for the Fire was what made the biggest difference,” Leon said.
That desire to be here is important. MLS has seen plenty of international stars come here and fail because they thought they could come here and coast. Leon compared Rios favorably to former Fire midfielder Pavel Pardo, who played well for the club before retiring this spring.
Rios is on loan to the Fire from Palermo until the end of this season, when the Fire has an option to buy his contract.
Leon said the Fire had been looking at a couple of young central attacking midfielders, but changed directions when Rios made clear his desire to play in Chicago.
“It was just very difficult to pass up a player of his stature,” Leon said.
Leon added the Fire also has started negotiations with goalkeeper Sean Johnson and his agent about extending Johnson’s contract. The Fire has an option for the 2014 season, but Johnson might want to try to play in Europe. Leon said the Fire could use MLS retention funds to extend Johnson’s contract.
Follow Orrin’s soccer reports on Twitter @orrin_schwarz.
Fire scouting report
Montreal Impact at Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Park
TV: Channel 50
Scouting the Impact: After a great start to the season, the Impact (10-6-5, 35 points) has cooled off lately, though it did get a solid victory against San Jose in CONCACAF Champions League play Wednesday. The Impact has an impressive roster, with new designated player Hernan Bernadello joining Patrice Bernier, Alessandro Nesta, Marco DiVaio and Danielle Paponi. Bernadello is especially strong on free kicks, a Fire defensive weakness.
Scouting the Fire: The Fire (8-9-4, 28 points) will have to avoid a letdown after Wednesdays disappointing loss in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal. The Chicago side badly needs a victory to stay in the race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. Midfielder Patrick Nyarko will miss the game with a concussion.
Next: at New England Revolution, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at Gillette Stadium
Orrin Schwarz