BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – With his contract expiring at the end of the month, Chicago Fire midfielder Sebastián Grazzini expressed frustration on Tuesday that the club has yet to offer him an extension. The Fire have a team option to extend the Argentine’s deal, but they haven’t yet picked it up.
"To be honest, yes, I find the situation to be uncomfortable,” Grazzini told FutbolMLS.com. “If I hadn't done my best on the pitch, I would understand the delay. I don't want to create any controversy, but I have a family and, with 20 days left on my contract, the situation has become uncomfortable.”
Grazzini said he has offers on the table in Argentina if his contract situation isn’t resolved, but he expressed that he’d like to stay.
“Back in my country, some teams have reached out, thanks to the fact that I've done things well,” Grazzini said. “But I'm happy here in the city and I would like to stay here.”
Grazzini has started 12 of the Fire’s 13 games this season, and his arrival late last season sparked a turnaround and almost resulting in an MLS Cup Playoffs berth. Chicago brought in a similar player in 23-year-old creative midfielder Alex Monteiro de Lima, who arrived Tuesday and will be available at the end of the month. Head coach Frank Klopas, gone on a scouting trip, wasn’t available for comment on Tuesday, but he has never expressed that he wouldn’t pick up Grazzini’s option.
Still, the situation is unsettling for the 31-year-old Argentine.
"If it's for my benefit economically, yes I want to stay,” Grazzini said. “As I've said before, I'm still waiting on the front office has to say. They have taken the time to decide and I'm waiting for their decision. As I've said all along, if economically the offer is good, then I will stay."
