Following the retirements of Marcos Senna and Raul, the New York Cosmos’ roster continues to take shape with the first batch of offseason moves.
The Cosmos announced Thursday that the contracts of Haji Wright, Kharlton Belmar, Samuel Cáceres, John Neeskens and Keasel Broom have expired and will not be renewed by the club at this time. In addition, the loan deal for Philadelphia Union midfielder Leo Fernandes has expired, although the Cosmos remain hopeful of working out a deal to keep Fernandes with the club.
Wright’s departure comes less than one year after signing with the club. An integral part of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team throughout this summer’s World Cup, Wright played a majority of 2015 with Cosmos B, making three appearances and registering one assist with the senior club.
Caceres and Belmar depart following the expiration of their loans from Argentine side Nueva Chicago and Portland Timbers 2, respectively.
The club also announced that midfielders Sebastián Guenzatti, Adam Moffat and Ruben Bover and forward David Diosa have signed contract extensions to remain with the club. The four resigning join Jimmy Maurer, Carlos Mendes, Hunter Freeman, Rovérsio, Ayoze, Alexis Velela, Danny Szetela, Andrés Flores and forward Lucky Mkosana as those that comprise the Cosmos roster as things stand.
“We have a lot of talent here at the Cosmos, but we’re always looking to strengthen our squad,” said Cosmos Head Coach and Sporting Director Giovanni Savarese. “I’m extremely proud of what this team was able to accomplish last season. Now we are ready to build for 2016.”
What do you think of the Cosmos roster moves? Any surprises? What do you expect from the Cosmos in the upcoming off-season?
Share your thoughts below.
Has anyone watched him outside the u-17’s? I feel like he’s another victim of our hype-train with little to no chance at living up to it.
Being cut by a lowly side like the Cosmo’s isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement and I’ve seen nothing to suggest this was some kind of “agreement”. If the Cosmo’s could make money off him, this would make zero business sense.
There is a giant difference between being cut and leaving as a free agent. Wright signed for one year for a reason.
Haji has no ball skills at all. I would be surprised if any adult side would pick him up.
Is Gaston Cellerino returning next year? Seems like a greasy move by the Cosmos just to bring in a ringer for the final 5 games + championship game.
DCU’s Kasper is in Argentina scouting while a guy like Cellerino flies under the radar back home?
Cellerino is the type of forward that gets stuck in (like John Hartson and Alan Gordon) instead of Saborio, who waits for the play to happen. Reminds you of someone on the USMNT?
Looks like Haji realized he was wasting his time with a minor league clown club. Interested to see where he ends up next.
I was working under the assumption that he signed with Cosmos as a holding plan until he could become age of the majority (18) and sign with Shalke (I think). I think MLS wanted a professional contract, which would have tied him up for up to 3/4 years and provided the hindrance of a transfer fee for a guy who not ready for prime time. Pretty cleaver in his team’s part if it works out.
Or he didn’t want to get stuck in MLS, which plays like a board-game – just to get pushed around…or rather superdrafted into a league with effectively no player bargaining power, that rarely acts in young players’ economic or developmental interests, all while either devaluing them or overhyping them, and nothing in between.
I feel like schalke would no longer be interested in a guy who barely made an impact on a U.S. Amature side. Maybe LA will sign him to Los Dos and see if he can develop.
Still, it might be a case of Schalke trying to catch lightning in a bottle w a player they already know pretty well. For minimal $$ commitment, they get the potentially big upside of an American talent in a team/league that has started to get more eyeballs from the US.
Anyone have any insight on how he did at the Cosmos/where he could go next? I remember seeing him play for the US youth teams and he was often far and away one of the best players on the field.
I’m almost a given he will sign with Schalke when he turns 18 in March. He’s been training with them when he can for the last 2 years. Unless a bidding war breaks out, that’s where he is headed. Leaving the Cosmos now is the easiest way to be free without worrying about transfer windows or transfer fees when the time comes.
So was this a preconceived departure from when he signed the contract or did the Cosmos not want him? I’m assuming the deal was play with us until you’re 18?