New York imports three newcomers By Dylan Butler / MLSnet.com Staff
MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- With New York Red Bulls training sessions resembling the MLS version of American Idol auditions lately, Gabriel Cichero is one player who doesn't need a name tag.
That's because the Venezuelan international met many of the players at preseason camp last year. So when he returned, this time on a loan deal from Deportivo Italia last week, the 24-year-old was familiar with those in the Red Bulls' locker room.
Cichero is just the latest piece in Juan Carlos Osorio's midseason rebuilding of a Red Bulls squad that is currently tied for last place in the Eastern Conference.
Cichero follows Jorge Rojas, a teammate on the Venezuelan national team, who, along with Argentinean defensive midfielder Juan Pietravallo, came to terms with the Red Bulls two weeks ago.
Both Rojas and Pietravallo have received their P-1 visas and will be available for selection for Saturday's clash against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Rojas, 31, who scored in a midweek scrimmage against the Harrisburg City Islanders at Giants Stadium, will likely start for the Red Bulls, filling the role of attacking midfielder vacated by the retired Claudio Reyna.
As for Reyna's designated slot, which was acquired in a trade with Chivas USA, the Red Bulls are free to fill the void and the roster spot, but they will not have any salary relief since Reyna is on the Red Bulls' books for the remainder of the year.
"We thought it would be unfair to take away the DP slot, but we thought it would be unfair to the other teams to give (the Red Bulls) salary cap relief," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said.
As for what's left under the cap, Osorio said he is shopping for a forward after losing Jozy Altidore to Villarreal of Spain's La Liga. Honduran youth international George Welcome is currently on trial and Osorio is said to be eyeing another striker inside the league.
"We can add another player instead of Claudio, providing we have some funds to do that," Osorio said. "I think we have a little bit of money to look for another player and we intend to do that."
In terms of a designated player for 2009, Osorio said the club already has a couple of targets.
"The company and we, as a coaching staff, have identified some potential designated players," Osorio said. "It will be impossible to bring any of those players at the moment with the money that we have."
So, in all, that's two midfielders (Rojas and Pietravallo), two defenders (Cichero and former Mexican youth international Diego Jimenez) and a targeted forward who would be added to the Red Bulls' books.
As for the rest of the Red Bulls, they are attempting to jell with the newcomers, while still preparing to take on the explosive Galaxy.
"It's unfortunate, because we don't have a preseason to grow," veteran midfielder Dave van den Bergh said. "But these players are experienced and they know what's going to be asked of them. They look fit, they look ready, so I'm confident they can help us."
As for Cichero, who moved from forward to central defender to follow in the footsteps of his father, Mauro, and older brother, Alejandro, he is taking his move to New York seriously.
"I come here to play, not for vacation, not to be on the bench," he said.
And Cichero possesses the ability to play with the ball out of the back, something that is a necessity in Osorio's system.
"For me, it's most important to play the ball because everyone knows how to kick the ball," Cichero said. "The toughest thing is to be technical as a defender. I think I have this. I am always very technical and I try to use this as an advantage."
Cichero also might use his relationship with his brother Alejandro, a former Venezuelan international who is currently playing for Shandong Luneng in the Chinese Super League, as an advantage to have another Cichero playing in New York.
"I told him one day if he decides to check out MLS because it's growing and there's a lot of good players," he said. "I think my brother can adapt here very easily and has a lot of experience. I said to him, maybe one day we can play together in the United States." But that's a newcomer for another day.
Source:
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