Real Salt Lake today filled out the final three slots on its 28-man roster after officially signing a trio of Argentine players - FW Fabian Espíndola, DF Matías Mantilla and MF Javier Morales - to contracts with the club. Per team policy, contract term and salary information will not be released. To make room for all three members of the Argentine contingent on RSL's 18-man senior roster, the team announced that D/M Chris Lancos has been moved to the club's Developmental roster.
Due to today's completion of the visa process, two of the three players are available for selection by RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis and could make their MLS and RSL debuts as early as Saturday against the Chicago Fire at Rice-Eccles Stadium (7:00 p.m. MT - call 801.924.8585 for tickets). Espíndola and Mantilla are expected to dress Saturday, while Morales awaits delivery of his International Transfer Clearance (ITC) paperwork. Morales will play in Sunday's RSL-Chicago reserve match at Quinn's Junction Complex in Park City, but is ineligible for MLS play until the ITC form - which essentially verifies that a player is in good standing with FIFA - arrives early next week.
"This trio of Argentine players raises the bar for international talent in Major League Soccer," said RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis, noting that the trio follows in the 2007 MLS footsteps of Colombian All-Stars Juan Toja (FC Dallas) and Juan Pablo Angel (Red Bull New York), among others. "By adding players on each level of our formation, we significantly upgrade the talent and depth of our entire roster. I am excited to see the level of intensity and expertise they bring to our training sessions and obviously to our games."
Morales is the most accomplished of the trio, joining RSL and MLS from the vaunted Spanish Second Division, where the 27-year old attacking midfielder excelled for club Vecindario. He was once teammates with reigning MLS MVP and D.C. United playmaker Christian Gomez at Argentine club Arsenal de Sarandi.
Espíndola arrives in Salt Lake mere weeks after his former club, Boca Juniors, played to a 1-1 Pioneer Day draw with RSL, as the 22-year old defender has been playing in the Ecuadoran First Division since leaving the famed Buenos Aires club. Mantilla, a 26-year old defender, is a six-year veteran of the Argentine professional leagues who is now playing professionally outside his home country for the first time.
Brief biography information for Espíndola, Mantilla and Morales is included below:
#9 - Fabian Espíndola
Position: Forward
Height: 5'9" (176 cm)
Weight: 160 lbs. (73 kg)
Birthdate: May 4, 1985 in Merlo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Last club: Sociedad Deportivo Quite (ECU/1) (2007)
MISC: A 22-year-old striker who has played in the Ecuadoran First Division with Sociedad Deportivo Quito (2007) and Sociedad Deportivo Aucas (2006) over the past two seasons ... Started his professional career with Boca Juniors in 2005 before moving to Argentine rival Talleres de Cordoba for the 2006 Clausura ...
#27 - Matías Mantilla
Position: Defender
Height: 5'8" (172 cm)
Weight: 154 lbs. (70 kg)
Birthdate: February 14, 1981 in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Last club: Defensores de Belgrano (ARG/1) (2007)
MISC: A 26-year-old defender that has played professionally in Argentina's First and Second Divisions since 2000 ... Has suited up for Argentinos Juniors (2000-2003), Huracan (2004-05), and Defensores de Belgrano (2006-07) ...
#10 - Javier Morales
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'9" (174 cm)
Weight: 143 lbs. (65 kg)
Birthdate: January 10, 1980 in Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Last club: Salamanca (SPN/2) (2007)
MISC: A seasoned playmaker, the 27-year-old Morales spent last season with Spanish Liga BBVA (Second Division) side Vecindario, with whom he notched five goals for in 23 contests ... Morales turned professional in 1998 with Argentine squad Lanus and spent the next eight years playing nearly 150 contests in the Argentine First Division between Lanus, Arsenal de Sarandi, Newell's Old Boys and Instituto de Cordoba
