Photo courtesy of Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire has had such a good return on its South American forward signings that the club decided to go back to the well again.
Chicago signed 20-year-old Colombian forward Cristian Nazarit on a free transfer from top-flight Colombian team Independiente Santa Fe, the club announced on Wednesday.
Nazarit joins offseason Uruguayan signings Diego Chaves and Gaston Puerari on the depth chart of Chicago's revamped forward corps. He'll occupy the 30th and final roster spot on the Fire.
A 6-foot-1 Colombian youth international, Nazarit started his professional career at America de Cali in 2007 before moving to Santa Fe the following season. He scored 16 goals in 42 matches with Santa Fe.
“The Colombian target forward has pace, strikes the ball well and is able to play with his back to goal," Fire technical director Frank Klopas said in a release. "His size and offensive abilities make him a positive addition to our team.”
Nazarit will be available for Chicago's game against Vancouver on Saturday.
What do you think about the signing?
Share your thoughts below.
The American kids can learn from the experienced big name Euros..More fans will come out…Then there is more spending on salaries and academies and more emphasis on the college game. All of these foreign signings are fantastic.
Brian Mullan
uh it was never not stupid
a domestic league to develop domestic soccer talent…
I am really surprised at some of the posts on here a lot of ignorance being thrown around. It is a great signing I am one of many that is concerned about the number of Americans in the MLS but I am sorry the MLS is attempting to raise it’s level. Colombian players are great and most importantly CHEAP. I don’t want to see over 30 big name Euros signing for DP status and bombing.The league will keep getting better and better and American players will end up benefiting.
I’ve been tracking him since Portland was interested in Colombians, that comment was floated out there by his agent.
He seemed like a bit of a prima-donna, thinking he was going to Europe for a big club, and then the move never materialized, and he was uninterested in signing again with Santa Fe (they initially moved on, but then tried to get him to resign (a likely cheap deal) after some injuries).
Only big drawback is that he’s been rumored to be training with Santa Fe, but hasn’t played in awhile now (last match in Dec iirc) so might not be in immediate game fitness.
He won’t be playing in KC or SJ. There will be enough fans in Toyota Park watching him score to satisfy his ego.
Funny to see riot police surround players with their shields as they celebrate a goal. Good news Nazarit, MLS fans won’t throw junk at you after you score. Bad news is sometimes there may not be too many fans to see you score.
I think it’s great. MLS clearly has a good reputation in Colombia. Are any MLS games broadcast on TV in Colombia?
HAHAHAHA!!!!
seriously. whats goin on with sbi lately?
This, clearly, is a building year for the Fire. As young as any team in the league the Fire are a squad that is going to get better across the season. While they could clearly use an upgrade at field general in the midfield, a tall, target striker is also something they can seriously use. A young Colombian stud who can take care of headers is an upgrade that can only make the Fire stronger.
Look out for chemistry developing by September.
Yeah right now there are not Americans in MLS, right?
Just think about ALLLLL those “American stars” who are stuck playing in the NASL because the MLS discriminates against them and signs young Colombians. Damn immigrants takin our jobs!
Pretty much every American who is good enough to play in MLS is in MLS, hell there are probably fifty Americans who are so awful no soccer fan in their right mind would pay to see them, who are still playing in MLS.
You already are.
Heyooo!
Whole new levels of stupidity in this thread….
any<<<<<<<<
this is a great signing. he is young, 6'1
bigger than any forward on the team and most importantly can play with his back to the goal and hold the ball up. should fit in well, not expecting any instant impact, but in a few weeks we'll see.
The backlash from some of you people is truly amazing. This is a great signing. Hope he works out as there have been rumors of him not being the best team player. I’ll take my chances on the young talent.
sounds like a nice addition…great to see more young talent coming into the league…though I am now afraid some of the xenophobes on here may come after me for saying so 😉
I’m guessing that if they spoke Polish you would be ok with it. You’d rather have a 33 year old overpaid eastern european then? If Messi wanted to join the Fire u exclude him cause he doesn’t speak English ?
No name Latino? No one had heard of Diego Chaves either. He’s starting out pretty nicely.
besides, take a look at this link:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/550979-january-transfer-window-rumours-johnson-owen-hulk-dzeko-and-more/entry/36539-chelsea-and-real-madrid-want-cristian-nazarit
I think if you get labeled the next Eto’o and are being fought over by Real and Chelsea, you might be pretty good…
You’re complaining about MLS signing a 20y old SA with potential? Come on. These kind of signings should be lauded!
sounds good.. how many teams use there full 30 roster spots tho? i doubt that Chicago of any team needs that many players.. maybe they are setting their goals on a deep Open Cup run and MLS playoff hopes..?
lol
What’s wrong with getting players from the Columbian league? It’s a pretty good league, better than the Mexican league.
All part of the USA’s master plan
Step 1 – Kill Escobar
Step 2 – Poach futbal talent
Step 3 – ?
Step 4 – PROFIT
What did they have in mind exactly?
We must have some sort of deal with the Columbian league
the trend continues…more washed up Euro’s and no name Latino’s….i dont think this is what FIFA had in mind when they demanded that we start a domestic league after the 94 WC.
Puerari 1 goal in 7 apps
Oduro 1 goal
Barouch 0 goals
Ferrari 0 goals
Nyarko 0 goals
So you have CHaves scoring, and some help from Pappa in Midfield.
He looks like a good pick up to me.
He is on a free transfer because colombian clubs have no money. That is why MLS has been busy signing young colombian players.
Hm. Decent strike record–about one goal every four games in Colombia. Young. Available on a free. What’s wrong with him? There’s always a catch.
haha, good one.
they all speak spanish, i would say communication is okay
I would rather have more south americans than old europeans but I would like some american stars too. But at least we’re seeing more young and in prime players.
I’m not a fire fan, but I must say this seems to be a good signing. A couple years ago this guy was a bigtime young prospect with significant interest from Europe.
I did not know there was a poll to see if everyone saw me as a Troll. I am glad I won something and you finished second.
wow, your thinking is pretty shallow. in futbol you don’t NEED to comunicate every single word. i’m sure if he’s good they’ll come to a basic understanding. plus chaves seems to be scoring pretty decent, w/ out knowing the “language”.
Because the last thing the Fire needs is more non-English speaking forwards.
Our chemistry is already trash, and we have a a full compliment of forwards who are scoring goals.
You realize that this entire website thinks you’re a troll? And guess what? You are.
why the hate? especially when they’re young.
Thanks for making my point ooh so clear lol
He can also do that
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ph5leuT3yo
But the fact that he’s coming in on a free is huge.
He’s been rated anywhere from 700,000 to 1.5m pounds.
And you’re an idiot.
I like this move. Preseason, worries would be there would be no reliable strikers or goals. It’s refreshing for that to be one of our strengths. Problem is we have no creative/attacking mid and need to shore up our back line. Nazarit can be a CAM or a striker. Should do well.
I love it. You want to make the league more competitive yet you complain about a young international coming in on a free transfer.
He is a UEFArcelona troll.
BUENISIMOOOO…!!
Where do you want them to come from?
ENOUGH WITH THE SOUTH AMERICAN PLAYERS
I’m going to just start following the Colombian League.