BRIDGEVIEW, IL - Chilean international José Marcelo Salas Melinao has accepted an invitation from the Chicago Fire to train with the Major League Soccer club later this week. Salas is expected to join the "Men in Red" for Thursday's training session and will work out with the Fire for an indefinite period.
A left-footed striker, Salas brings a wealth of international experience. He has spent 11 years with the Chilean National Team, scoring a record 35-goals while earning 65 caps. In the 1998 World Cup, he scored four goals in four games.
The 32-year-old Salas split time between Universidad de Chile (1993-96, 2005-06) and River Plate (1996-98), an Argentine First Division club. Nicknamed the El Matador, Salas also spent five years in Italy, going to S.S. Lazio (1998-01) for an $18 million transfer fee before landing with Juventus (2001-03), formerly of the Series A Italian First Division.
"We pleased to have someone of Marcelo's caliber in camp with us and we hope to make a decision regarding his possible signing in the near future," said Fire President/CEO John Guppy.
