By JUSTIN FERGUSON
While they continue transfer negotiations for Panamanian striker and potential designated player Gabriel Torres, the Colorado Rapids are closing in on a deal that would bring a veteran striker with experience in Liga MX and the Bundesliga.
The Rapids are looking to add Vicente Sanchez, a 33-year-old Uruguayan currently in his home country with Nacional. Sanchez arrived in Denver on Wednesday to meet club officials and work on finalizing the deal.
“He’s a player that I know from before,” Rapids head coach Oscar Pareja said on Wednesday. “I was tracking him last year for us, but the numbers didn’t work out. He’s a player who has been at a high level for a long time, and was active in a top league in South America in the last tournament.”
In a related deal, the Rapids released forward Kevin Harbottle on Wednesday evening. The 22-year-old Chilean, who was signed in January, started the Rapids’ first four matches of the season, but had not seen playing time since March 23.
“We want to wish Kevin well as he continues his professional career,” Rapids technical director Paul Bravo said. “This move allows us the flexibility with our roster that we will need to continue improving our squad this season.”
Sanchez started his career in Uruguay, but he rose to fame in Liga MX with Toluca, scoring 85 goals in 242 appearances for the Mexican club. Before a move to Club America, Sanchez spent two seasons at Bundesliga side Schalke 04.
“(Sanchez) is someone who could bring us a little bit of experience,” Pareja said. “We need that. We want to keep building on the youngsters but I think that it’s always welcome to have people leading by example, and pushing. People who have been around, but can still perform and help.”
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What do you think of this news? Excited to see a veteran player like Sanchez potentially join the Rapids? Disappointed that Harbottle’s tenure was cut short?
Share your thoughts below.
MLS picks another misfit or reject… bravo
See Chivas USA, there are stealthy ways to flood your team with players of a certain style and ethnicity. If you had just added all South or Central American signings but left the MLS draft for the best player instead of letting it be known you were going Hispanic only, then you would fly under the radar like Colorado has. Also, throw in a lower division player or two.
Sanchez is more assist-man, open space for others, and Sanchez is coming cheap (because Rapids are cheap).
One can call it “cheap” and leave it at that. But if you spend less money than most and have better results to show for it than most (as the Rapids do this season), that’s usually considered rather more positive…
Rapids have history being cheapos. I still wish Sanchez best luck, both us being native Uruguayans.
They do have a history of it, yes, and of some success, despite that.
I’m a bit skeptical here. Players who’ve succeeded in Mexico have often not done well in MLS. I wonder how well he did in Germany. But going to a faster league when you have gotten older and slower is not a good mix.
Be interesting to see (: