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RSL Releases Nunez, Loans Nimo to Portland, CBA status

Mar 11

Posted by kirsoccer in Alex Nimo, Collective Bargaining Agreement, Tino Nunez | 3 Comments

Real Salt Lake today announced the departure of Tino Nunez as he was waived by the club.  The move leaves the club with just three natural forwards in the mix.

In addition, the team announced another season-long loan for Alex Nimo to the Portland Timbers.  These two moves will free up two roster spots which theoretically could put the team in line with the 24-man roster.  However, with the much discussed possible addition of Costa Rican forward Alvaro Saborio, they would likely still need to make an additional move to become roster compliant.  If you followed our last post on this topic, you’d know that our bet would be one out of the trio of David Horst, Rauwshan McKenzie, and Chris Schuler or Raphael Cox.

No new news on the Saborio front but we’ll let you know as soon as we hear something.

On the CBA front, a more serious threat of strike potential according to the Soccer Insider.  However, this was tempered by news later in the day from the site of the negotiations that “the meetings were productive.”

Alvaro Saborio joins team in Charleston

Mar 10

Posted by kirsoccer in Transfers/Trades | 8 Comments

In a story that Keepin’ It Real has been following – it’s our understanding that Alvaro Saborio has now joined the team in Charleston after reportedly signing with the league on Saturday via a loan agreement.  We have been trying to get some details on this transfer for the last several days and hope to be able to bring those to you soon.

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Chivas USA Negotiating with RSL for Saborio’s MLS rights?

Mar 5

Posted by kirsoccer in Rumors | 5 Comments

The latest word out of Costa Rica indicates that Chivas USA is trying anything in their power to get their hands on Alvaro Saborio.  This would require making a trade with Real Salt Lake who holds the first discovery claim on the player:

YashinQuesada.com:  “They have the first option, the first team to realize and ask for the incorporation of Saborio was Realt Salt Lake, the second option would have the Chivas USA (…) The coach and the owner want to Saborio are determined so to do what is necessary to keep the player even offer a change of players to have the first option on Saborio”

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Real Salt Lake Numbers by Position

Mar 5

Posted by kirsoccer in Preseason, Rumors | 7 Comments

Real Salt Lake headed out today en-route to Charleston for their 2nd preseason trip.  They will be in Charleston through March 20th, which will allow them to complete their training for the final week of the preseason here in Salt Lake.

You may have seen our previous post on the roster numbers.  I think there is a theoretical mix of numbers at each position that does exist, but other practical matters come into play as the roster is constructed which may alter this theoretical ideal mix.  It’s also likely that a premium will be placed on flexibility.  Here are the current 26 players in camp.  As a reminder, under the now-expired CBA each team was able to have a roster of up to 20 senior roster players and 4 developmental players.

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Real Salt Lake Confirms Interest in Saborio

Mar 4

Posted by kirsoccer in Rumors | 4 Comments

For the first time, Real Salt Lake has publicly expressed interest in Saborio according to Sensacion Deportiva (EDIT: apparently this comment comes from a story on the Spanish version of MLSnet)

Real Salt Lake, MLS Cup champion confirmed the interest in acquiring Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio as they are making changes to your return.

“We’ll see what happens. We’re working on that possibility right now,” said Vice President and General Manager, Garth Lagerwey.

In addition, on American soil has options Saborio Chivas USA and Seattle Sounders.

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Alvaro Saborio Updates: Price Matters

Mar 4

Posted by kirsoccer in Rumors | 3 Comments

Keepin’ It Real has been able to track down some information direct from Costa Rica that confirms the information we have been receiving.  It sounds like the price may be an issue.  We know from comments by the league that they have proposed increases to the salary cap.  It could be that the reason reports have indicated that the labor dispute is holding up this deal, is due to the fact that teams are waiting for confirmation on the salary cap before they are willing to settle on a loan fee for the player.  There are likely a number of complexities with this negotiation.

Here is what we know:

  • Real Salt Lake appears to hold first discovery claim
  • Chivas USA appears interested, but their discovery position is unknown
  • His current contract reportedly goes through at least June
  • Economic rights are split jointly between FC Sion and Deportivo Saprissa

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Saborio to Chivas? RSL? Sounders?

Mar 3

Posted by kirsoccer in Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake, Rumors, Seattle Sounders | 6 Comments

Here’s an article that seems to have updated info (see translation below) on Alvaro Saborio, the Tico previously rumored to be headed to MLS to either Real Salt Lake or Seattle Sounders.  Unfortunately the automated translation is rough on this one (I’ll try to get a confirmation on it in the morning when people are awake :) ).

This article seems to point out that the Sounders rumors were incorrect, and that it is RSL that has the first shot at him – although it claims that’s due to the fact that they won the championship.  I guess they don’t understand the whole issue of MLS player acquisitions any better than we do!

However, the article (and this is where the translation is muddled) seems to indicate that despite the fact that RSL has the first shot, Chivas may actually be the most likely to land the player – at least I think that’s what it says.  It points out the ties between Saprissa and Chivas USA, both of which are owned by Mexican bazillionaire Jorge Vergara.
Sorry folks, my Google Spanish isn’t very good.

Sabo pursued in MLS (Translation provided by romls)

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Thoughts on Alvaro Saborio rumors

Mar 2

Posted by kirsoccer in Rumors | 3 Comments

No real news on Alvaro Saborio.  Hopefully there will be some new information coming in the next day or so.  However, here are some of my thoughts on the situation, that may give each of you a better idea of where this rumor really stands:

#1: The initial report linked RSL to Saborio based on an indication that RSL had sent a camera crew to a Saprissa practice.  I think this is highly unlikely, it’s more likelythat a team like…the Sounders, would have been the ones to send a camera crew.

#2: The second wave of news reports came out with Saborio headed to the Sounders, but failed to give any sources to bolster the credibility, so it didn’t seem any more likely than the RSL rumors.

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Alvaro Saborio to Seattle Sounders?

Mar 1

Posted by kirsoccer in Rumors, Seattle Sounders | 6 Comments

Last night we gave you the breaking news about Alvaro Saborio close to signing with the league, and the article referenced gave some tenuous information linking him to Real Salt Lake.  This morning Ovacion is reporting that he is close to signing with the Seattle Sounders.  As mentioned, the team who has filed a discovery claim on the player would be in the driver’s seat under the old rules established in conjunction with the recently expired collective bargaining agreement.  I have been told that those rules would still apply.

We’ll pass along more info as it comes available.

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Real Salt Lake after former Saprissa striker Alvaro Saborio

Feb 28

Posted by kirsoccer in Rumors | 8 Comments

Courtesy of TeamTalk

Thanks to a tip from Kurt, it seems that RSL is pursuing former Saprissa striker Alvaro Saborio.  This article indicates that the Costa Rican international is close to a loan deal with MLS, and that although the team wasn’t disclosed, they point out that RSL recently sent a camera crew to a Saprissa training.

“Sabo” is a 6′0″, 170 lb forward who turns 28 next month and he would apparently come on loan.  His rights are currently split 50/50 between Saprissa and Swiss club FC Sion where he played for the last 3 seasons scoring 36 goals in 87 appearances.  He was then sent out on loan to Bristol City, but his contract with FC Sion was recently terminated after Saborio asked to return to Costa Rica.  He cannot return to Europe and play, or play in Costa Rica because of closed transfer windows, making MLS an attractive option.

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