Might Yura Movsisyan be headed back to MLS?
A Russian outlet reported on Monday that the Armenian-American forward – who played for Kansas City and Real Salt Lake from 2006-2009 – is interested in returning to the league from Spartak Moscow.
The report claimed that the Chicago Fire are in talks to sign the 27-year-old, though the player’s agency poured cold water on those rumors on Monday, with Global Premier Management tweeting that another MLS club – not the Fire – had a bid for Movsisyan rejected.
Fire head coach Frank Yallop backed up Global Premier Management’s tweet, telling reporters on Monday that he had no knowledge of any reports linking his club with the Armenian national teamer.
“It’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Yallop said. “I had him in what used to be called Project-40, the Generation Adidas group, he was with us, and he’s a good player, did well in this league.”
Kansas City selected Movsisyan out of Pasadena City College with the fourth overall pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. He spent 1 ½ years with the then-Wizards, scoring five goals in 28 appearances before being traded to RSL in September 2007. The 6-foot-1 striker thrived in Salt Lake, scoring 15 goals in 53 games and helping RSL to the 2009 MLS Cup title before moving to Danish club Randers in January 2010.
A Real Salt Lake spokesperson confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Monday that the club made Movsisyan a contract offer before he left for Europe, and that the team retains his MLS rights. The spokesperson also said that RSL has not been approached by any other MLS side for a trade for Movsisyan’s rights.
Movsisyan moved to Russia after only one year at Randers, transferring to FC Krasnodar in January 2011 and then to Spartak Moscow in December 2012 for a reported €7.5 million fee. He has earned 27 caps with Armenia since making his international debut in August 2010.
Shane Murray provided additional reporting to this article.
