SECAUCUS, N.J. - The MetroStars announced Friday that they have acquired Costa Rican defender/midfielder Pablo Brenes as a Transitional International with a Discovery Pick. In addition, the team announced that they have waived defender Joey DiGiamarino.
Brenes was available to sign by the MetroStars outside of the FIFA Transfer Window because his contract with the Costa Rican club Pérez Zeledón had expired. Brenes will become the MetroStars' fifth Transitional International player, joining Gilberto Flores (Brazil), Cornell Glen (Trinidad and Tobago), Fabian Taylor (Jamaica) and Joselito Vaca (Bolivia).
"We are happy to bring Pablo to the MetroStars," said MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley. "He is a talented young left-sided player who did very well for Costa Rica in Olympic Qualifying, and we hope that he can be a contributor for our team in the future."
Brenes was most recently in action with the Costa Rica U-23 National Team, which qualified for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games from the CONCACAF region. The 21-year-old started in all nine of Costa Rica's qualifying games, registering one goal in a 15-0 rout of Belize on September 15, 2003.
"For such a young player, Pablo brings us a quality left-sided player and some more defensive depth," said MetroStars President and General Manager Nick Sakiewicz. "Positionally, he will mesh well with his teammates, and we look forward to his contributions to our efforts this year."
Born on August 4, 1982, Brenes' full name is Pablo Andres Brenes Quesada.
In addition, the MetroStars announced Friday that they waived veteran defender Joey DiGiamarino. DiGiamarino was acquired by the Metros on March 31, 2003, via a weighted lottery after spending two years with Bayer Leverkusen of the German Bundesliga. Last season the Corona, California native played in 18 games for the Metros, starting 16. He had not seen any action this season with the MetroStars.
