Revolution returns from Arizona, adds Colombian striker
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Less than six weeks away from the season opener, the New England Revolution continues to work towards finalizing the squad that the club hopes will bring new excitement to Gillette Stadium.
The team returned Tuesday from its first training camp, held in Casa Grande, Arizona, the first of two preseason training camps to be held in that state and then yesterday morning announced that it signed Colombian forward Jose Moreno on loan from Colombian power Once Caldas.
The release reveals that “Moreno will be formally added to the team’s roster upon receipt of his U.S. P-1 Visa and his International Transfer Certificate. Per league and club policies, further contract details will not be released.”
“Jose is a player we targeted during a recent scouting trip and we are excited to be able to complete a deal with him to bring him to New England,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “He’s a strong, target forward who has a lot of experience playing at the highest levels in both South America and Europe. We’re looking forward to his arrival as soon as the Visa process is completed.”
The Revs noted that “Moreno began his professional career in 1999 with Colombia’s Deportivo Pasto, scoring one goal in 10 appearances as an 18-year-old. One year later, he joined America de Cali and helped lead the club to the 2001 Colombian championship and the 2002 Apertura title.
Moreno earned three caps with the Colombia National Team in 2006.”
First win in Arizona
In addition to all the training, the Revs also held their first pre-season game, a 2-1 victory over FC Tucson of the Premier Development League, as coach Jay Heaps had a good chance to look at the seven players on trial who made the trip hoping to justify a contract offer and a spot on the 2012 roster. The Revs currently have only 22 players signed, so they must add six more prior to opening day.
Because the strikers from last season’s squad did not return, Heaps brought along three forwards – David Foley, Michael Roach and Rick Smith.
“This is the first real leg of our preseason,” Heaps told reporters during a conference call last week. “It’s about finding out what we have and what kind of team we’ll be. We’re doing it at an excellent facility. There are a lot of opportunities for players to get on the field, play with each other, get to know each other and get some strength and conditioning work in. It’s really important that we (meet) a lot of different goals during these 10 days.”
Lekic signs in Denmark
While in Arizona Heaps learned that striker Rajko Lekic, who had scored six goals in 23 appearances during his one season with the Revolution, will not return as he signed a one-and-a-half year deal with Danish SuperLiga side Lyngby Boldklub.
The Revolution decline its option to retain Lekic, but had made a revised offer and continued dialogue with the player, hoping that he would return on terms more favorable to the club.
Milton Caraglio, the other striker from 2011 who had been with the Revs on loan from Argentine side Rosario Central, also declined a revised offer and signed earlier this year with Chilean first-division side Rangers de Talca.
Lekic had come over from Denmark’s Silkborg last April, and his departure is not much of a surprise. In early January Lekic told examiner.com that “he wanted to return to the Revolution in 2012, but he did not plan to accept the club’s offer of a semi-guaranteed deal for next season and would weigh options inside and outside of MLS as he attempted to secure a new contract.”
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