They've been clamoring for a Designated Player in Montreal and the MLS expansion side finally has its first one.
The Impact officially announced the long-rumored signing of prolific Italian Serie A striker Marco Di Vaio, who has just concluded a 10-goal season for Bologna FC in Italy. It was his fourth consecutive season of double-digit goals for the top-flight Italian club.
A speedy and opportunistic forward, the 36-year-old Di Vaio becomes the fourth player on the Impact with significant Serie A experience after Bernardo Corradi and defenders Nelson Rivas and Matteo Ferrari. Felipe Martins also played in the Italian lower divisions.
His move to MLS concludes a Serie A career that spanned 14 seasons and leaves him among the all-time goal-scoring leaders with 145 goals. He also has a scudetto to his name while with Juventus in 2002-03.
Although he made his name in Italy and became a fan favorite at Bologna, Di Vaio has also played in Spain's La Liga and France's Ligue 1. In fact, Di Vaio was Corradi's strike partner when the two played for La Liga club Valencia in the 2004-05 season.
The former Italian national team player joins an Impact side that finds itself in the middle of the pack when it comes to goals scored (13), but they have played more matches (12) than the majority of MLS clubs. Corradi leads the club with four goals, although three of those have come on penalty kicks.
In addition to Corradi, Di Vaio will be competing for playing time with the likes of Justin Braun, rookie Andrew Wenger, veteran Eduardo Sebrango, Colombian Miguel Montaño and winger Sanna Nyassi, who has also filled in at striker.
He will officially join the Impact's roster when the secondary international transfer window opens on June 27.
