TORONTO — Despite being under contract with Toronto FC, Dwayne De Rosario has gone on trial with Scottish power Celtic without the Reds' permission.
The media in Scotland, including the Glasgow Evening Times, reported on Tuesday that De Rosario suited up with Celtic at their training facility, Lennoxtown, on Tuesday morning. Several photos showed De Rosario and former Chicago Fire midfielder Freddie Ljungberg training with the club, and Celtic manager Neil Lennon claimed De Rosario would be in Glasgow for a week.
"[De Rosario] is in today," Celtic manager Neil Lennon told the media on Tuesday. "He's a similar player to Shaun Maloney, he likes to play off the left and come inside. He is a skilful, sharp and intelligent player. Again it's an opportunity for us to have a look and see what he can offer us."
All of this comes just hours after TFC interim General Manager Earl Cochrane told MLSsoccer.com that De Rosario had not asked Toronto for permission to train with another club. "Dwayne is not going on trial with Celtic or any other club," Cochrane said on Monday.
The news of De Rosario's training in Glasgow on Tuesday caught TFC by surprise, and Cochrane has issued a statement.
"We were unaware of Dwayne's plan to train with Celtic and we will contact them to understand the situation," he said in the statement. "Obviously, if there is interest in a short-term loan arrangement by either him or Celtic, they will need to approach us and the league formally, and we will consider based on what is in TFC's best interest."
The club indicated that it would reserve further comment until speaking with De Rosario and Celtic.
De Rosario did not return messages asking for comment.
