By DAN KARELL
FC Dallas have long had their eye on South America for another talented youngster to add to their squad. On Wednesday, the club did just that.
FC Dallas announced that they had signed Argentine midfielder Mauro Diaz from Argentinian side River Plate, pending the receipt of Diaz’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Per team and league policy, details of the move were not disclosed.
The 22-year old Diaz, a former Argentine Under-20 teammate of Toronto FC midfielder Matias Laba, broke through to the River Plate first team as a 17-year-old in 2008 and played in 70 league matches for the club. Diaz also spent the 2012 season on loan at Union Espanola in Chile, making an incredible 41 appearances for the first team.
Like his former teammate David Trezeguet, Diaz looked to be on the outside of River Plate coach Ramon Diaz’s plans. Last season, Mauro Diaz played in just three matches for the Argentine side.
Here are some more stories to get you caught up around the league:
EARTHQUAKES AQUIRE ALAS IN LOAN MOVE
With his move to Rosenborg BK not working as well as he hoped, El Salvadorean midfielder Jaime Alas has received a new lease on life.
Alas on Wednesday completed a loan move to Major League Soccer, joining the San Jose Earthquakes through the end of the season, pending the receipt of his ITC and his P-1 Visa.
The 23-year-old has played just times in the league for the Norweigian club, featuring seven times in last season’s Europa League campaign. Alas joined Rosenborg in 2012 from CD Firpo in El Salvador.
U.S. National Team fans may remember Alas as the player who scored the game-tying third goal for El Salvador in the 94th minute of the 2012 Olympic qualifiers, knocking the U.S. Under-23 squad out of the London Olympics.
IMPACT SEND TWO PLAYS TO MINNESOTA UNITED ON LOAN
In order to free up roster space for potential summer transfer signings, the Montreal Impact have sent two players on loan to Minnesota United FC.
Midfielders Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Calum Mallace have been sent on season-long loans to the NASL club, after finding it difficult to find first-team minutes with the Canadian club. Ubiparipovic has only played once this season, struggling with injury and to take a starting place away from the likes of Patrice Bernier, Davy Arnaud, and Felipe Martins.
Mallace, the Impact’s second-round draft pick at the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, made two appearances off the bench this season back in March, but hasn’t seen any first team time since.
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Diaz improving FC Dallas’ midfield? How do you see Alas fitting in the Earthquakes midfield?
Share your thoughts below.
Really enjoy that River Plate sharpies their b@lls with their initials the same way I do for my rec league games.
River Plate is the best from Argentina. Mauro Diaz is a bad player…
TFC was after Diaz as well. I guess he say their game against Chivas and thought “no way!” lol
How is it that some haven’t learned that “lol” is lame? If you have to cue people that you;re trying to be funny, then you aren’t succeeding in being funny. Also, people who tack on the “lol” to insults are loathsome creatures.
To your point — MLS has “discovery” rules. The foreign player doesn’t have a lot of input on which team he goes to — though, I suppose he could condition his signing a deal to the team he prefers.And, there has been a trade of discovery rights once or twice. Most often, though, when two teams are interested in a player, the team that filed the first discovery claim will get him.
Thanks for clarifying the rules and the fact that you’re a jerk.
Thanks for clarifying the rules and the fact that you’re a tedious pedant.
You’re welcome. lol
lighten up lol
i LOL’d. I’m glad I made you waste your time timing that BS out :)))