COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – There was a small piece of France in the Colorado Rapids locker room after the game against Houston last weekend.
Most of the victorious squad had left to celebrate the 3-0 win and the only animated conversation remaining was in French. Moroccan midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy was talking with the Rapids’ French trialist, Yoann Arquin, and Julien Baudet was joining in, too.
Arquin, a 22-year-old physical center forward who was with the Rapids only for last week, speaks no English but made it clear that he would be keen on making the move to Colorado. Certainly, the Rapids would like to have him. Sources within the club said they very much liked the look of the imposing striker, a player they had been tracking for more than a year.
Arquin said his agent and family members were in the process of negotiating with the Rapids. He added that Colorado was a “good place” and he liked the fact that he could speak some French in the locker room.
Negotiations, as they frequently are for foreign players coming to MLS, have not apparently been all that straightforward. The will is there to sign the former Paris Saint-Germain forward, but there are some difficult hurdles to overcome if the move is to take place.
“[We have to see] whether or not we can afford him, [if] he wants to come here, or whether he has another offer,” Rapids head coach Gary Smith told MLSsoccer.com last week. “He’s here for the week and we will have a chat at the end of the week.”
Even if Arquin, now back in France, does sign with the Rapids, he won’t be walking straight into the team. There is not only the small matter of dislodging the strong and established partnership of Omar Cummings and Conor Casey, but also the fact that the youngster has a nagging hamstring injury that Smith said would keep him out for a few weeks.
Arquin managed to score a goal in last week’s reserve game against Regis University before limping off with the strain, and the forward himself conceded there was some work to do on the injury.
The Rapids secured their biggest win of the season against Houston. But they are still lagging where they were this time last season in terms of goals scored. Arquin, if he gets the chance and agrees to terms, may be an important part of that playoff jigsaw towards the end of the season.
