MONTREAL – More roster moves could be in the works in Québec.
Argentinean midfielder Ignacio Piatti will join the Montreal Impact “barring a last-minute turnaround,” according to a Wednesday report in Montreal daily La Presse.
Per the report, while clubs from Brazil, Italy, Spanish and Mexico are showing interest in Piatti, Montreal are leading the pack as they’ve been courting him for more than a year.
The club declined to comment on the report when contacted by MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday. Montreal’s sporting director Nick De Santis did, however, go public with the club’s pursuit of the player last month.
"He’s a player we’re very interested in,” De Santis said on April 24. “Are we confident it can happen? Things are going well. He’s been doing very well. [San Lorenzo, Piatti’s current club] are in the Copa Libertadores right now. ... So obviously, it’s not easy, but trying to bring him here in Montreal is part of our plans.”
Piatti's goal last week against Brazil’s Cruzeiro qualified San Lorenzo for the Libertadores semifinals, scheduled for late July. Five days later, however, he suffered an adductor strain in El Ciclón's 3-2 home loss to Vélez Sarsfield.
The 29-year-old is a versatile attacking midfielder and has played in France, Italy and Argentina. His last name apparently generated a case of mistaken identity in February when it was reported that Valencia winger Pablo Piatti was on Montreal’s books.
