The Red Bulls have been confident of adding a creative attacking midfielder by the middle of this month. They did just that today, trading for Dwayne De Rosario. The deal _ which was centered around young midfielder Tony Tchani _ was first reported by Craig Forrest of Rogers Sportsnet and later followed up by TSN (Canada’s version of ESPN).
“Dwayne has been one of the league’s best players over the past several years and we are thrilled that he is a Red Bull,” said Red Bull GM and Sporting Director Erik Soler. “He is one of the most dangerous players MLS has seen in the attacking third and he is a true leader both on and off the field. We had to trade Tony and Danleigh – two very talented, young players who both need more playing time with a first team in MLS to develop their potential. At the end, we think this is a massive step in our quest towards the MLS Cup title.”
The Post has confirmed not only won’t De Rosario count as an international because he holds a green card, but he won’t count as a Designated Player either because Toronto is picking up a “significant” chuck of his salary. For a now team filled with leaders such as 30-somethings Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez, its a masterstoke of the sort the Yankees usually pull off. Here is clip of him in action.
Tchani was the second overall pick in the 2010 draft, and has shown considerable promise. The gifted midfielder wrote on his Facebook page that he “is hearing rumors.’’ They’re more than rumors now, with the deal _ which includes next year’s first-round pick and Danleigh Borman _ going through just under the wire today, for De Ro to be eligible to suit up Saturday vs. his old Dynamo team.
“I can confirm it went through,’’ said a source within MLS, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the transaction. “He is flying and should be (in New York) tomorrow, ready to play.”
The 32-year-old De Rosario has been disgruntled in Toronto and unhappy with his current contract, which paid $443,750 last year according to MLS Players Union records. While that is hefty by league standards, that’s about a quarter of what Designated Player teammate Julian de Guzman raked in last year, and the team still hasn’t made the playoffs.
That was put in comic context in the video below, where he scored and celebrated by asking for a pay raise.
Yesterday, Soler said he hoped he could land a classic No. 10 by the April 15 transfer window deadline. Clearly, De Rosario fits the bill, with 15 goals and three assists last year, and a record-tying five MLS Best XI appearances.
He’s a gifted midfield engine, who had a stunning 27 goals in 53 games for Toronto. Adding him to a diamond midfield in front of Teemu Tainio, between flank players Joel Lindpere and Dane Richards, and feeding strikers Thierry Henry and Juan Agudelo may well give opponents fits.
“If we get the player we want, this team will be very, very tough to beat,’’ Soler had told the Post on Tuesday, who provided a willing taker for the gifted-but-disgruntled star that Toronto had spent this entire offseason shopping around, and got him at a discount.
What do you think of thias move? Think the Red Bulls are MLS cup-bound? Holla at us…
