TORONTO – Central defender Geovanny Caicedo’s Toronto FC career has ended before it really began.
The club announced on Friday that the Ecuadorian’s contract has been terminated by mutual consent. Caicedo was signed in January to help bolster the backline, but leaves Toronto after just months with the club.
“We are certainly disappointed with this outcome,” Toronto FC head coach and technical director Aron Winter said in a statement on Friday morning. “During the preseason, Geovanny expressed difficulty adjusting to the style of Major League Soccer.
“This reason, combined with being away from his family, we were willing to accept the contract termination,” Winter continued. “We felt it was in the best interest of Geovanny. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
The 30-year-old played in Toronto FC's first game of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic, a 2-2 tie with Orlando City, and appeared slow and off the pace of play. He committed a foul that led to a penalty.
Holdover Ty Harden played at right center back next to Chilean Miguel Aceval in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against LA Galaxy in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
In addition to Toronto's current pairing in the back, center back Adrian Cann is making impressive progress in his return from knee surgery that cut short his 2011 season and could return within weeks. Dicoy Williams is also slowly working his way back, but isn't expected to contribute in the near future as he recovers from knee surgury that ended his 2011 season.
