The Red Bulls have waived oft-injured forward/midfielder Santino Quaranta.
Acquired from Los Angeles for a conditional fourth-round draft pick, Quaranta played just three games for the Red Bulls for a combined total of 47 minutes. He missed most of the second half of the season with a foot injury. The 23-year-old midfielder goes on the open market less than three years after playing pretty well for the U.S. national team in the Gold Cup.
Will Quaranta get any more chances in MLS? His less than ideal work ethic has earned him a reputation that won’t help his cause. If he doesn’t get another look it would be a shame for a player who showed so much promise as a 16-year-old rookie for D.C. United, then as a solid contributor for DC and the U.S. national team in 2005.
i grew up n played ball with santino for alot of years and hes always proved he was the best in baltimore with guiliano best of luck to both of them
I played alongside of Santino at the state level for many years growing up in MD. He was incredibly talented but as echoed endlessly here, he lacked the work ethic and drive needed to sustain excellence at the professional level, partly due to the ease in which the game came to him as a youth. He was able to skip tryouts and walk his way onto both the Regional and National teams. He had his moments with United (a nice Infinity Q45 as a signing bonus), but with familial issues (having kids young, etc.), his drive has since diminished. Now that he has to work a little to compete, who knows where he’ll end up. I wish him the best of luck…
After watching Santi the first half of the season with the Galaxy, I have to echo those comments above about his lack of work ethic, poor attitude, and extra pounds. The goal poachers of this sport can fluctuate in and out of shape and still remain effective, but a lazy midfielder is simply useless. If Quaranta’s time around Pete Vagenas didn’t teach him how to make the most out of his abilities, he’s not going to learn on some other MLS team. Obscurity, here he comes!
Not a shock about ‘Tino, but sad nontheless. My wife gre up with Santino and his family and I’ve met him a few times. He’s a great guy, but he’s led a charmed life. He never had to work for anything growing up because of his soccer abilities. Everything on the field came so easy to him he never developed the work ethic needed to compete day-in and day-out at the upper levels. It’s a shame because there’s no doubt the kid has bundles of talent. Hell, he was in a few USMNT campes! How the mighty have fallen. I guess the Baltimore Blast will be signing him soon to play with his boyhood pal Celenza?!?!? I’m only half joking….
c’mon… noone should be shocked. He packed on the pounds and never seemed to lose them. It really effected his play and is probably why he keeps getting injured. Thanks for the draft pick NYRB…
I don’t feel any pity for this clown. If he’s too lazy and stupid to work hard, that’s too bad. The real world works this way:
Work hard, and you’ll be rewarded.
Be a lazy turd, and you’ll be in USL or indoor before too long.
If he can’t figure this out, then he’s a dumb turd.
For his sake, I hope he wakes up and works hard for whatever chances he can get in the future. But if he doesn’t, he won’t be the first, and he won’t be the last prodigy to waste his potential
not sure if he’d fit in, but hopefully John Doyle is looking at him to possibly bring to San Jo. No stone unturned, in my view.
Does he or does he not love the game? If he does, give me this kid’s number. He would definately have a spot on a team in Chile, Peru, or Bolivia. I’ll manage him if he really has the heart to make a go of it. A couple years of footwork, competing with guys who NEED the money to survive, and standing on the scale would do him wonders.
Does he or does he not love the game? If he does, give me this kid’s number. He would definately have a spot on a team in Chile, Peru, or Bolivia. I’ll manage him if he really has the heart to make a go of it. A couple years of footwork, competing with guys who NEED the money to survive, and standing on the scale would do him wonders.
If they’d have offered him a cheeseburger for every goal he’d have been an all-star. But from the looks of it he got plenty of cheeseburgers on his own.
Santino has talent. He’s been injured. He has a high salary for MLS.
He can still prove himself to be valuable to any MLS team.
The question is is he mature enough to take the ego-thumps necessary to make that happen?
Recent history suggests no. Now would be the time to prove us (me) wrong.
oodles of talent
shame
hope he bounces back
Im willing to bet TFC will be contacting him for a tryout (sigh)… Maybe Mo can revitalize him and make him work?!?! (godwilling, we really really do need an attacking mid)
He must have gotten caught up in all the booze and women that surround the MLS scene 🙂
His rapid decline is nothing short of Prioresque, although he never reached those heights. But his star was very very bright. Would love to know the details of his ‘poor work ethic’. Is it just that or is that an oft used phrase for larger issues.
I think this is disapointing news for MLS in general. Santino is a young kid with a lot of talent. It is a pity he is wasting it. Too bad.
Nice nose ring! Maybe he could play for Toronto or RSL, they might be desperate enough to sign him.
Does the three games/47 minutes meet the requirements of the “conditional” arrangements for the pick for Quaranta trade? If so, what’s the value of having conditional picks for player trades?
I’ll always remember the good times I had with Santino in Fifa 07.
12 goals, 7 assists. Bravo.
Yet another of Bruce’s terrible ideas.
4th rounder in this years draft.
Does anyone recall what draft picks we gave LA for Quaranta?