MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact have made an offer to Italian defender Alessandro Nesta, the club confirmed on Monday. The club would not, however, confirm reports emanating from Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport suggesting that a deal to bring the center back to Montreal is completed.
Nesta, who became a free agent this summer after 10 seasons with AC Milan, was at Stade Saputo last Wednesday as the Impact were defeated 3-0 by Canadian rivals Toronto FC. The Reds indicated two days later that they had an interest in signing the veteran center back, with head coach Paul Mariner hinting that he saw a leader for his backline in Nesta.
Meanwhile, Corriere dello Sport is reporting that new Impact Designated Player Marco Di Vaio has convinced the three-time World Cup veteran to join him in Montreal. Di Vaio and Nesta would become club teammates for the first time since 1995, the last year they were both on the books at Serie A club Lazio.
Nesta, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, would reinforce an Impact backline which has struggled since losing both Matteo Ferrari and Nelson Rivas to injury. Montreal coped well after Ferrari limped off in the 4-1 win over Seattle on June 16 – with Shavar Thomas or Hassoun Camara next to Rivas in central defense – but they have scored one and conceded seven since Rivas was substituted against Houston on June 23.
