The Red Bulls’ roster is bound to still get tweaked a little between now and opening day. Coach Juan Carlos Osorio is hoping to see second-round pick Babajide Ogunbiyi on the list, as well as some other additions as well. (I’ll get to those later).
Osorio praised Ogunbiyi as an “intelligent young man” in the wake of the behemoth’s decision to finish school at Santa Clara. He said he’s encouraged because the 6-4 defender has skills he’d love to work with, and is still young enough to be a developmental player, so he hopes to get him signed as soon as possible.
When I asked if the fact that he’s new to the position would make this year a lost cause for him if he doesn’t show up until camp is over, Osorio didn’t seem to think so. But he also added that he’s still looking at every possible option. My guess is that means he’ll eventually get a developmental slot, and knock out a young kid signed until then. But don’t hold me to it.
Which brings me to trialists. I hope to have the names of the other two undrafted rookies that the club filed discoveries on later today (as well as their opponents for preseason friendles). But a couple names to touch on: LDU Quito’s Luis Miguel Escalada, Carlos Johnson and Emil Martinez. Quito brass have confirmed Escalada is MLS-bound, and sources have indicated to me that Red Bull is both interested and the front-runner, so I included some highlights below:
Osorio confirmed that he had taken in Honduras’ recent win over Chile in Florida, and sources say he was very much interested in Martinez, who played left midfielder. But I’m told he just sealed a deal to jump from China’s Shanghai Shenhua to Italy yesterday, so clearly he was too expensive for Red Bull.
They don’t seem to be interested in Seattle winger Khano Smith, who is clearly being shopped around the league. But the club is definitely interested in ONE of these two: Either Costa Rican right back/right-winger Johnson (at Bryne FK in Norway’s second division) or Escalada, a 22-year-old Argentine striker.
Johnson’s agent said the Red Bulls were keeping tabs on his client, but he thought Johnson was one of several possibilities at the position. Meanwhile, there is all sorts of interest in Escalada. Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis scoutedhim in person, and Columbus was tracking hm as well. He seemed headed to Ecuador’s newly-promoted Manta FC; but now he appears destined for a move to MLS.
He came up through the legendary Boca Juniors system in 2004-05, but blew up after being loaned to Ecuador’s Emelec, scoring a league-high 29 goals in 40 games. Quito bought him from Boca in 2007 for $1.1 million, and he scored 16 times in 38 tilts to help lead them to the Ecuadorian title.
Quito went on to win Copa Libertadores last year, but he’d been loaned out to Brazilian Botafogo by then, and eventually on to Gimnasia de Jujuy back home in Argentina, scoring twice in 11 games. Here he is scoring a header against Boca, his former club.
He briefly returned to training at Quito, but the president of the club’s football commission department, Esteban Paz, said on local radio that Escalada is MLS-bound. Yes, that could still be Columbus or Real Salt Lake, but if this move goes down, I’m betting he’s coming to RBNY.
What do you think of these developments? Can’t wait to see big Mr. Jide signed? Which player do you think they’re after, Escalada or Johnson? Mad the salary cap ensured they had no shot at Martinez? Check in with us….
