By JUSTIN FERGUSON
Since he returned to his home country on a loan move earlier this year, Sounders fans have held out hope that star forward Fredy Montero would return to Seattle at the end of 2013.
But the current Millonarios player could be saying goodbye to the Pacific Northwest for good and making his move to Europe.
In a recent interview with Colombian radio station Antena 1, Montero said that he had been approached by a Portuguese club. A Millonarios official later confirmed the existence of the bid, but he was not allowed to say which club made it.
Although the forward signed an extension with the Sounders before his loan move to Millonarios, there is a clause in his contract that would allow him to move to a European club before the loan ends in December. The Sounders would receive a portion of the transfer fee if Montero makes a move.
Montero has scored five goals in 19 appearances, all starts, for the Categoria Primera A club this year. The Seattle designated player scored double-digit goals in all four seasons with the Sounders.
Here are some more stories from around the league:
RAFAEL CUT BY DCU
Just over six months after becoming D.C. United’s first-ever young designated player signing, Rafael is no longer with the club.
The 20-year-old forward, on-loan in Major League Soccer from Brazilian side Bahia, had his loan contract terminated on Wednesday in a mutual decision between D.C. United and the player. After all the excitement that followed Rafael to the American capital, he never came through on the potential that general manager Dave Kaspar and head coach Ben Olsen once saw.
“We thought he would be further along at this point of the season in his adaptation and development,” Kaspar said about Rafael on D.C. United’s website. “Additionally, Casey Townsend has come into the picture recently with solid play, and Rafa lost playing time as a result. We did not see this changing. In the end, with a looming decision on a big transfer payment for a player on loan, we felt it would be wiser to look to invest funds toward players elsewhere.”
Rafael played in seven matches this season for D.C. United, scoring just once, on a long-range blast against the Columbus Crew on his MLS debut.
DYNAMO WAIVE CAMARGO
In a move that came as no surprise in Houston, the Dynamo announced Wednesday that they had waived Brazilian midfielder Luiz Camargo.
Camargo originally joined Houston on loan from Brazilian second division club Parana in September 2011. He was a part of a late-season surge that sent the Dynamo to the MLS Cup Final, assisting Carlo Costly on a crucial goal in the 2011 Eastern Conference Final.
The 28-year-old Brazilian midfielder appeared in all but two regulars season matches for the Dynamo in 2012, and he provided another major assist in that year’s Eastern Conference Final.
But in 2013, Camargo had only appeared in seven matches, none of them in a starting role. He tallied only one goal and five assists during his time in Houston.
TFC CONFIRM FRIENDLY WITH AS ROMA
It’s official: Toronto FC will take on Michael Bradley and AS Roma in another one of the club’s star-studded summer friendlies.
TFC confirmed Wednesday that AS Roma will visit BMO Field on August 7, exactly one week after the Serie A side faces the MLS All-Stars in Kansas City.
“We are excited to play against Toronto FC,” AS Roma CEO Italo Zanzi said. “Playing in Toronto is a great opportunity for us. The city has deep Italian roots and many AS Roma supporters. We are confident this will be a fantastic visit and a platform for future activities in the city and other parts of Canada.”
Tickets for the friendly will go on sale to the general public in two weeks. Roma also announced they will have an open practice at BMO Field on August 6.
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What do you make of these reports? See Montero making a move to Portugal? Disappointed with Rafael’s stint with United?
Share your thoughts below.