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Whitecaps sell Chiumiento to FC Zurich

Chiumiento (Getty Images)

As the Vancouver Whitecaps prepare for an all-Canadian battle with Toronto FC tonight, they'll do so without one of their most inventive and creative players.

The Whitecaps sold Davide Chiumiento to FC Zurich for an undisclosed transfer fee, a move that abruptly ends the playmaker's time in MLS. The 27-year-old Chiumiento, a Switzerland native, did not score a goal this season, but he had a team-high five assists in 16 games (15 starts). 

Last season, Chiumiento had a team-high nine assists. He was known for his technical skill, back-heel passes and ability to make plays out of very little, and his departure presumptuously opens up a more permanent place on the field for 33-year-old Designated Player signing Barry Robson but it also takes away one of the Whitecaps' more capable players in the attacking third. Even with its arsenal of attacking players, the Whitecaps have mustered just 19 goals in 18 games, 13th-most in the league.

"Davide has been a very good player and ambassador for Whitecaps FC during his time with the club," Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie said in a release. "This is a great opportunity for him to be closer to his family while continuing his soccer career."

What do you think of this development? Surprised to see Chiumiento get sold? Did you think he was one of the more exciting players in the league?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. The offensive player has been on the bench.

    Chumiento showed flashes of skill, but he did not have the physicality for MLS. He went down way too easy. He was a turnover machine at this level. He stalled the offensive attack and did nothing to provide service to offensive talents Le Toux and Hassli.

    Bring in Camilo!

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  2. I basically agree with your premise — though not the wisdom of selling Cameron — but “presumably” this too has been in the works for a bit. However, I’d be peeved if MLS fast tracked this while sitting on Cameron, because he will have to clear work permit on appeal so this will be a lengthy saga as it is.

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  3. As a swap for Robson this makes no sense, I think the Robson signing will blow up in Vancouver’s face at some stage as he’s just not worth DP money to me, he’s no better than many players already in MLS to be frank, there was a time when a resume that included Middlesboro and Celtic would be impressive but those days are long gone.

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  4. Money talks, but Vancouver has a shot of winning their league…I would assume that would be appealing to most competitors

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  5. Better get used to it Caps fans. If a top club like Arsenal is forced to sell their top players a minnow like Vancouver doesn’t stand a chance. Koffie and Mattocks are next. I’m curious to know what the fee was for Davide.

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  6. He wanted to go home, to be closer to his children and he was going into his option year with the Caps. The sold him in order to help him out as well as to get something for him while they could. It also opens up a roster and international spot. Sure it is a disappointment for Caps fans but we understand.

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  7. Chiumiento was unhappy last year when he was benched and was a bit of a fireball. With Long Tan go be, seems like Rennie is shipping off those problem players. Was at the Chivas game, and Robson did not impress. Looked out of fitness (not surprising) but spent all game yelling at the ref and misplacing set pieces. While Chiumiento was the definition of mercurial, not really sure selling him was the best plan.

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  8. I thought Chiumiento was one of the most exciting players to watch in MLS. The league will be poorer without him.

    He must have asked for the move, because it doesn’t make any sense why Vancouver would sell him.

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  9. Why attack the organization? Sounds like he bailed = “This is a great opportunity for him to be closer to his family while continuing his soccer career.”

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  10. “Presumably”, not “presumptuously”. I’m not usually a fan of policing grammar/vocabulary, but this one needed stopping.

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  11. I’m a Rennie fan, or at least I thought I was, but I really don’t understand why they are dumping offensive players like this. Chiumiento, Nguyen, even Long Tan. And who have they added, a 33 year old Barry Robson as a DP? We have no idea what he can do, if anything, in MLS… Robson certainly wasn’t impressive in his debut, although those were tough conditions.
    Rennie explain yourself!

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  12. terrible. what was rennie thinking??? HE WAS OUR BEST PLAYER OFFENSIVELY. god dammit rennie better get at least 2 good players capable of making our offense better.

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