Photo by ISIphotos.com
The Chicago Fire has made a deal to secure the services of one of its most important players, Guatamalan winger Marco Pappa.
The Fire exercised its option to buy Pappa's rights from Guatamalan side CSD Municipal, thus ending a two-year loan deal it had for Pappa and securing his services through the 2012 season.
I’m very happy about returning to the Fire,” said Pappa. “This is a club that I want to build my future with and I want our fans to know that I’m going to give all my efforts in helping our team be successful and win the MLS Cup.”
Details of the deal were undisclosed, but sources tell SBI the new deal will make Pappa one of the highest paid players on the Fire. Pappa finished 2009 with five goals and four assists in his first full season with the Fire.
What's the SBI take? This was an absolutely essential move for the Fire, who already lost Chris Rolfe and won't have Cuauhtemoc Blanco back for at least half the 2010 season. Pappa's creativity will be crucial to the Fire's chances for success next season.