Photo by ISI Photos
When Wilman Conde made the move from Colombian club Millonarios to Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire last year, he did so in order to continue playing for Juan Carlos Osorio, a coach he respected greatly and felt could him improve as a player. It appears Conde wants to be reunited with Osorio yet again.
Conde told Kathryn Knapp of Chicagoland Soccer News that he wants to be traded to the Red Bulls. In an emailed statement to Chicagoland Soccer News, Conde wrote the following:
"As you may recall, it was through Juan Carlos Osorio that I came to MLS, and the Chicago Fire particularly," Conde said. "That is why I want you to know that I wish to continue to work with him and rejoin him with his new team, the New York Red Bulls.
"The Chicago Fire is a great institution but my interest and desires are no longer with this team. It is a difficult situation but it is my desire to pursue my career with the New York Red Bulls starting this season."
Conde went into more detail with the Chicago Tribune’s Luis Arroyave, who spoke with Conde on Saturday.
Conde’s trade request comes as no surprise to those close to him, who have been aware of his desire to be reunited with Osorio since Osorio left the Chicago Fire to become the Red Bulls head coach in December.
Whether Chicago will let such a reunion take place is another story. Conde was arguably Chicago’s best defender last season and the Red Bulls would have to pay a significant amount to pry Conde away from the Fire. That is assuming the Fire will even listen to offers. The acrimony surrounding Osorio’s departure from Chicago could lead to the Fire to refusing to even consider dealing Conde to the Red Bulls.
Chicago general manager John Guppy issued this statement through a team spokesperson:
"We are aware of Wilman’s interest to play in New York," Guppy said. "However, Wilman is under contract with the Chicago Fire and we do expect him to perform all of his obligations in a professional manner. As always, the interests of the Chicago Fire are paramount in all player decisions."
Conde’s willingness to go public at this time could suggest that he is ready to take a hard stance on his desire to be traded to the Red Bulls. Could he leave Chicago’s training camp and hold out? It is entirely possible.
What could the Red Bulls offer Chicago? Midfielder Dema Kovalenko and Seth Stammler and defenders Kevin Goldthwaite, Jeff Parke and Carlos Mendes could all be part of a trade, as could goalkeeper Zach Thornton. I know Fire fans won’t accept anything less than Juan Pablo Angel or Jozy Altidore, but neither of those two players are going anywhere. I also doubt that Dane Richards goes anywhere.
If the Fire is willing to listen then Osorio is likely to make a strong offer because Conde is the exact type of player he has been searching for this off-season, a left-footed defender who could play left back in a 3-5-2 or left back and center back in a 4-4-2. Conde’s versatility and young age (he’s 25) make him a valuable commodity.
What do you think about Conde’s proclamation? Are you surprised? Do you think he’s out of line? Do you think Chicago should let him go? Do you think the Red Bulls should trade Dane Richards and draft picks? What about a package of Kovalenko, Magee Parke or Mendes, Thornton and next year’s No. 1?
Share your thoughts below.
This reminds me of the ante Razov scenerio with columbus and how he wanted to be with Ny and Coach Bob Bradley……..and then how he wanted to be reunited with Bob at chivas…
chances are conde is leaving chicago wheather it will be to NY or some other team/possibly a return to colombia???
only time will tell….
Paul,
I don’t know if you’re a NY fan, but as a NY fan, I don’t consider Kovalenko, Parke, Mendes or Wolyniec to be mediocre players. In fact, I don’t think that many other NY fans do, let alone the NY front office. So given that, I don’t see why NY would have to trade a pkg of these players plus a potentially very valuable 1st round draft pick to Chicago for a player that no longer wants to play there.
Furthermore, as a NY fan, I hope that NY retains Kovalenko, Parke, maybe Mendes and our ’09 1st round pick. I’ve seen what these guys can do and I’m happy to have them on the team I support. Magee is a decent player but has battled constantly with injuries and Woly is surplus, so I can see these guys going somewhere else this season.
I agree with you 100% that this is Chicago’s problem and NY doesn’t have to bend the team over to accomodate them.
Why would should Red Bull give up anything good for Conde? As far as i’m concerned their doing chicago a favor by taking a player who no longer wishes to be with their team, off their hands. It would be completely retarded to think that Red Bull should have to give up a player of true value like Juan Pablo Angel, Jozy Alitore or even Dane Richards. I Think red bull should unload one of their mediocore players like Dema Kovalenko, jeff parke, carlos mendes, mike magee, or john wolyneic along with a 1st round draft pick. I think this should be more than enough. After all its not our fault that chicago’s star defener no longer wants to play for their sorry club any more. This is chicago’s problem not ours.(next time don’t sign players who don’t have a strong desire to be a part of your club.)
Time for another cage match?! Damn, we might have seen some real ugliness between supporters if a) any NYRB fans ever travelled and if b) there were many NYRB fans to begin with, home as well as away.
This, like the JCO thing, is not an insult to the Fire as a club or Chicago as a city. It also is not a testament to RBNY as a club or even NY as a city (great as it is). Make no mistake — it is all about the benjamin$$$$ with these two cafetero$$$$.
I still stand by my post JCO prostituting himself prediction that the Fire will finish ahead of RBNY in the standings and will go further toward the MLS Cup.
Thanks Dannyc58. I thought so too.
I think the main point of this whole situation is what a shame it is that Conde is making a mess of the Fire b/c he wants to go play for his coach…the same coach who brought him to the Fire and then abandoned him. If anything, Conde should be f’n pissed off that Osorio brought him to Chicago and then left him in his dust. Maybe Osorio isn’t that great of a coach (horrible substitutions/line-up @ Revs) & friend (abandonment of fire franchise, team, city, fans AND the player he brought from Colombia) after all, have you thought of that Conde? Anyway, he’ll probably end up chasing him to Europe or somewhere else after the season, and NY will experience the same sense of frustration and anger that we are all feeling.
In the meantime, the good news is that we are about to get another huge rival in NY. Gonna feel a bit like the old Knicks – Bulls rivalries. And like many Bears fans say that if the team wins 2 @ the packers and lose all other games, it’s still a successful season of sorts. Personally, I wouldn’t want to give up the playoffs, but there will be no other games that I’ll want to see the Fire win more than the ones vs. NY. Go friggin Fire!
Where will Conde go when Osorio is fired halfway through the season because his RB team sucks, as usual?
I honestly can’t understand why anyone would rather be on another crappy RB team than on what could be a great Chicago team this year. I say this as a season ticket holder.
Tom,
NY stands to make 2/3 of the transfer fee and a 500K allocation upon Jozy’s sale.
So Conde for essentially 6 Million in funds and a $500K allocation (even if Jozy never suited up) is a great deal whenever you tender that note for Chicago.
Thats why RB fans are saying its ridiculous, we don’t even have to get to a player v player analysis.
I’d like to think that the Fire front office and Fire fans are as stupid as wanting Altidore for Conde. Setting aside arguments about who’s a better player and the fact that trading a forward for a defender is almost never done one for one (there’s a reason why forwards generally get payed better, it’s called scoring goals). Altidore if he continues his career arc, he will play very few games at all this season for his club team. He’s got the Nats, Olympic qualifying and a potential mid-summer transfer to a foreign club. If he plays a half dozen games and scores a half dozen goals, then all that does is seal a transfer. The last thing you want is a player who will be gone before the end of the season. But hey, don’t let me stop you. Go ahead. It’s like paying face value on a 20-year note just before it expires.
Come to think of it, you have a deal.
WAY TO GO CONDE. WE WANT YOU AS WELL. KEEP IT UP!!!
The Fire should make this trade; the Red Bulls might be willing to part with any combination of Dema Kovalenko, Kevin Goldthwaite, Carlos Mendes and Zach Thornton.
I know RBNY isn’t going to give up Altidore or Angel, but why should the Fire agree to some deal that is in huge advantage to RBNY because the player wants to be with his buddy?
Typical South American behavior when they want out…Do you really think Osorio’s wife makes the decisions of her husband’s career? Please, wake up, it’s a front South Americans use to get out of their contractual obligations.
I hope the fire let him rot on the bench if he acts up, someone has to nip this behavior in the bud.
Another knock against league owned contracts. It’s actually more advantageous for clubs to sell players to other leagues than it is to barter at a disadvantage with other teams in MLS. This whole thing would be way less annoying to a Fire fan like me if the MetroBulls would just send us a pile of cash instead of having to swallow a package of training camp cuts and draft picks.
And now for something completely different: “In addition, the News of the World reported Sunday that the United States may replace Scotland as an opponent for England in an exhibition game at Wembley on May 28.”
That would be, um, a downer.
I tend to stay out of the insult barrage on this blog, aside from the occasional late night anti-DC rant, but…
You Fire fans make me LAUGH. I sympathize with you, because this is an unfair situation, but your overblown estimations of your team and your underestimations of everyone else are just hilarious. You’re doing your team no favors as far as the intelligence of its supporters is concerned.
DC Fan: You’re a flaming idiot, don’t ever speak again. DC’s players were not under contract, so they owed them nothing and were taking no cap hit, hence they could do whatever they wanted. Not so with Conde.
furia yanqui: Conde came to MLS for Osorio, not for your pathetic club. Get over yourself.
papa bear: The best defender in the league! Too funny.
DING! DING! DING! ….. and the fight is over folks. What an ugly fight it was, too. Both sides just hopelessly flailing at each other with nobody really landing any significant or meaningful blows.
I’m telling ya, watching this fight was sad. Real sad. How sad? It was sad like a period in my life that I don’t like to talk about much, a time when I used sit alone in my mom’s basement eating Kilbasa. Good night folks!
Solution:
Sell Conde to Club America. The only city thats dirtier and more unsafe than NY. Good thing the Metro stars I meand Red Bulls (what are you calling yourselves these days?) dont play in NY.
Under no circumstance should the NEW JERSEY metro bulls end up with Conde without Richards.
If Conde wants to go to New York, Chicago is in a tough spot. If they keep him, he will refuse to play and they will basically forfeit the cap space. If they trade him to RBNY, they will get very little in return — because Osorio knows Conde wants out badly and he can negotiate difficult terms. I don’t envy Chicago’s situation. First, Guppy screws up Toyota Park and now he can’t control turnovers in coaching staff or roster. Fire fans have to be very upset right now.
The Fire had to pay what was rumored a $300,000 transfer fee to Millionares for his rights (which was low because JCO knew the club had financial issues and needed the cash), they also gave Millionares a percentage of future transfer fees (which will play huge because you will see Conde playing in Europe in a year or two- he’s that good).
I have met Conde several times, and he is even bigger in person; the dude is a beast: big, fast, left footed with quick skillful feet. I saw every game he played last year (and all home games in person), this guy will make Best Eleven this year- again, he is that good.
What people forget is that Osario is all about defense and has stated that he needs a big left-footed defender in his scheme. Since I don’t believe that he has found that player yet in NY, I think that he would give up Dane Richards for an equally-talented top young defender with Euro transfer fee written all over him.
But even with that, I think that the Fire owner, (who ultimately calls the shots) might balk at any deal to NYRB just because of JCO’s involvement and possible tampering. Don’t think money or compensation will be as important as the principle of the whole thing.
Wait until JCO pulls the same stuff on NYRB’s when he gets a Euro coaching opportunity- it will happen as JCO is a true Machavellian disciple.
Drew,
Didn’t see that. As a NYRB fan, let me just say I think that is one of the more idiotic points made on this post.
Sorry about that.
Michael Bradley didn’t say anything because, unlike Conde, he has respect for his teammates, the club that gave him his chance and himself. You give your all to a club until you actually are with another club. That’s what men do, that what little Bradley is doing. If you don’t, how is the next club to know that you won’t do the same to them?
RBNY is so desperate they don’t care that JCO and Conde are little hoors.
FTP — f#@$# these p(*W!@utos.
altidore is going to shatter the transfer record for an american….so erase the jozy for conde idea.
You guys have have Goldthwait and the rights to Miles Josheph
its funny how fire fans say, “our player!” correct me if I’m wrong, this is osorios player. if it wasn’t for him he wouldve never been with the fire. let him go with his daddy osorio.
ANYTHING LESS THAN RICHARDs FORGET ABOUT IT. Even a straight up deal Richards for Conde is one sided as Richards isnt nearly as good as Conde. Conde Could be MLS defender of the year.
Kovalenko and Stammler are not worth Conde. THeres no way we should be trying to make Red Bulls better or give them Conde for free after they fleeced the Fire for Osorio.
Screw Conde he could rot on the bench or send him to Europe for a free transfer.
Anything but letting your conference rivals get your best defender for crap players.
Welcome to MLS, Chicago can cut him and they’ll still hold his rights. Kovalenko, Park, Mendes? Get real. Surely the Fire isn’t going to get Jozy or a DP, but they’ll get what they want or Conde will be out of MLS for the next two years.
Dannyc58:
Grow up Fire fans. Just deal with the fact that most people would rather be in New York.
Posted by: Jonny | February 16, 2008 at 04:45 PM
So get off your NYC-center-of-the-universe high horse BS. It’s old & played.
Posted by: Drew
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Drew, who said that?
Yes, AZ. You had a high point. No you have Guppy. Let me quote Johnny Thunders, “You can’t put your arms around a memory.” Have fun crying in mom’s basement, eating kilbasa.
what about a three way trade? how about mastroeni to chicago, money, combo players, draft pick to colorado, and conde to new york for starters. mastroeni replaces armas or could go to the very back. mastroeni is still a great defense marshall. colorado had a good defense last year statistically though their offense sucked which made all their games boring. it still good for chicago money for a new forward maybe get kovalenko for defensive cover for gomez which is what mastroeni would have been doing draft picks etc. new york gets their central defender. i am sure there are other possibilities. any thoughts
MLS should look in If Osorio has anything to do w/ it kick him out of the league
And foe Conde He needs to be more professional. Chicago should not trde him for nothing. If the league do not stop this
sh…. this will get out of hand
In other news, apparently RSL has told Chris Lancos he doesn’t factor into their plans in ’08. Lancos played the season before last in Kaiserslautern, also played at Maryland and is a product of Bradenton. The kid is 23, and I believe is a left-sided player.
NY should call him into training and get a look at him. This is exactly the kind of player that could provide depth for the team on the left side, likely as a left back. He may even have upside considering his resume.
Here is the news:
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695253541,00.html
Send him to New England and let him talk with the Krafts about a transfer
Hey DC Scum blow it out your a$$!
Why do people always tell others on blogs like this to “grow up”? Anyone else get tired of reading the same insult used over and over?
If the Fire can’t get what they deem sufficient compensation for Conde, then why not let him sit & rot? The team has to show that it will not be held hostage by whatever whim a player/coach has. They have to already be furious by what JCO/Red Bulls did; why would they trade them their best defensive player to them after the sh** they pulled? Since they don’t have to trade him to NY, then should expect an extremely healthy return to make it worth it.
Also, this situation has nothing to do wanting to live in NY…JCO’s was b/c his wife snapped the whip, but Conde’s isn’t. So get off your NYC-center-of-the-universe high horse BS. It’s old & played.
Anyone who isn’t impressed w/Conde “needs to grow up” 😉 because he’s a top shelf MLS defender. Period.
What are the MLS rules in regards to tampering? NYRB does not look to be playing by the rules. Anyone who thinks Osorio isn’t behind this is crazy. I’m thinking the league should look into this.
Wilman Conde is under contract and the best defender on the club. How could anyone, even New Jersey fans, expect the Fire to part with anything less than a quality player or DP slot in return?
“If Conde wants to leave, the Fire doesn’t really have much leverage.”
—————-
Tell that to DC United’s front office.
It’s fun seeing this whole thing from afar Bwhahahahaha VAMOS UNITED may your two clubs rot in hell.
Smith:
Let’s see…
In addition to the 1 MLS Cup, the Fire boasts 2 other MLS Cup Finals appearances, and US Open Cup titles in ’98, ’00, ’03 (over NY), and ’06. In addition, they earned their way to the Supporter’s Shield in ’03. Perhaps I’ll wear my replica Kubik jersey, but I may want to change it out for other names like Stoitchkov, Wolff, Beasley, Nowak, or Wynalda. Like I said, at least we managed to have a high point in our team’s history.
I’m alright for getting Conde to NY, but I think NY could do just as well without him. Trade Altidore for Conde? No way, as another poster said, the allocation money from Jozy’s transfer will fund the team well in 09, possibly for years, and you also have to consider Altidore’s contribution in 08.
Dane Richards for Conde? Not a good deal. Its harder to find a quality right wing in this league than a servicable left back.
Next year’s first round draft pick? Why deal that now before the season has started? I don’t think NY should deal it period because there are always interesting Generation Adidas players available in the first round. But even if a team were to deal the pick, it would be unwise in preseason — who knows, Conde could have a season shortening or ending injury a month from now and we’d still be out a pick in 09. That wouldn’t be worth it.
On the other hand, if Conde is unhappy he’s unlikely to put 100% into practices or games. It may be worthwhile for Chicago to trade him to at least get SOME quality. I really think there are lots of Conde-like players in Latin America, to shake up NY to get him isn’t worthwhile.
These comments have at least proven one thing conclusively, it’s almost impossible for RBNY or CF fans to be objective!
I am sure RBNY would just love to unload a bunch of mediocrity on Chicago for Conde, but how could anyone think that Chicago would do such a thing. If they do, they need a new coach as well. If I am the coach of Chicago, I already have a good defense and I don’t need backup players (most likely) for a good player. I certainly don’t need Thornton, as I am sure no one else does either.
I don’t think RBNY should give up Richards. Conde is a good player but Richards is going to be a really good player and his role with RBNY is more important for them than Conde would be to them. They need Richards to feed Altidore and Angel. How about Reyna? Here’s your opportunity RBNY fans! Just kidding! I don’t see that RBNY has anything to offer that they don’t need and is of value to Chicago. I can’t believe RBNY hasn’t signed more players. They could really use Conde or anyone of quality.
It seems like the only way this could happen is a first round draft pick, allocation money, and maybe a player of at least some use to Chicago. Sorry, RBNY fans but nobody wants your mediocre defenders or washed up goalkeeper. On the flip side papabear said: “I’ll take Richards + allocation money + a 1st rounder in return. That is fair value for the best defender in the league.” That’s really funny Papabear. Show the RBNY fans that you can be just as delusional as they are!
Okay, AZ Fire. You’re right. We’ll give you Leitch, Magee, the Picture of Bradley AND an 8 x 10 of Nowak celebrating your ONE MLS Title (as if you’re Houston or DC & can actually brag about anything. Please. All you have going for you is good Polish food.)
Yes, we’ve been lousy all these years, no denying, but now that you’re stuck with Guppy, you will find yourself in the corner of your mother’s basement crying into your Lubos Kubik replica jersey wishing it were 1999. Have a good time.
The Chicago fans saying that the Dema, Parke, Stammler, Mendes group is garbage have no idea what they’re talking about. None of the guys in that list is an all-star talent, but these guys could start on most MLS teams. I’ve seen Conde play a couple of times, but he didn’t stand out when I saw him play, so I have no clue if he was good or not, and don’t claim to know. If Ives says he’s pretty good, then that’s good enough for me.
Rather than rush into anything, I think RBNY should let this simmer for a while and see how this plays out.
Yanqui, Michael Bradley didn’t ask to be transferred because he’ll get a better offer this summer. BUT, if he had said “I want to go to Everton” he would be at Everton right now. That’s how the rest of the world works.
Papa Bear is so full of $hit it’s not even funny. Papa, you’re one of these clowns who sits and home and pretends to have a clue about what really goes on. You don’t know shizzle.
Stammler for Conde straight up doesn’t make sense but Stammler is a good talent who is worth Chicago getting. That said, a package of Dema-Parke-Magee and a draft pick is more than fair for a player who DOESN’T want to play for you guys.
The way the off- season has gone so far, D.C. might get Conde for Jaime Moreno with the prospect of having Jaime retire upon arrival in Chicago! Sorry, but D.C. pulls the trigger on some MLS head- scratchers.
if he won’t perform for the Fire, we should just trade him to someone other than NYRB. This sucks, Conde is a really good player
Papa Bear, after your tantrums during the Osorio saga, and your completely erroneous predictions about compensation, color me gobsmacked that you would return for round two.
Thornton? Are you kidding me? Thornton?
Please. I’m better than him. Keep him, but watch to make sure he doesn’t eat all the doughnuts in your morning meetings.
I think Richards, Dema, Stammler and a first round draft pick ought to do it.
Good luck Team Juan Valdez.
To the guy who said this is the way it is in MLS, not Europe … imagine if Michael Bradley had said, “Screw Heerenveen. I want out in this transfer window. I want to play for Everton.” You would be calling him an idiot, and you would be right. Instead, Bradley said he would play out his contract and not sign an extension. So it’s up to the club if they want to sell him while they can.
And to those who think Conde is great for being honest and “following his heart” … Be a man. Show that you are a player that can stand on his own skill, wherever and for whatever coach.
I don’t believe that Conde told the Fire that he wants out. They would have never got rid of Curtin if they thought they wouldn’t have Conde. And they have made public statements from the beginning that he is going nowhere.
JCO is pulling the strings on this one …
@Posted by: Haig | February 16, 2008 at 06:50 PM
you REALLY believe that RBNY doesn’t want him and Osorio hasn’t been getting in his ear to raise this fuss? You are more gullible than you let on.
@Posted by: Jonny | February 16, 2008 at 04:45 PM
you’ve obviously seen Conde play 1 maybe 2 times if you seriously think Stammler is good value.
@Posted by: Connor | February 16, 2008 at 06:23 PM
You basically listed all the reasons why one of your list in ‘untouchables’ would have to be in play or ‘no dice’ Conde is the best defender in the league.
@Ives: that list of possible trade bait is not only insulting but ridiculous, but expected from a true RBNY homer.
@everyone suggesting him holding out is bad etc.:
You do realize that if you start holding out into the season without an injury that the club doesn’t have to pay him, right? How long do you think he’s going to sit and rot for free? Not long.
He can take a hike. I’ll take Richards + allocation money + a 1st rounder in return. That is fair value for the best defender in the league.
As a fire fan, I have no desire to see the load of mediocrity that has been suggested above in a Fire jersey. If this immature a–clown wants to play for the carpet bagger then I suggest we let him…once his contract expires. If he does not want to play he can sit home. The deal from NY has to be much better than any combination of Dema/Stammler/Parke/Mendes, etc.