BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Sebastián Grazzini is putting soccer on hold.
Dressed in street clothes while his teammates practiced on Friday in advance of their Sunday match against the LA Galaxy (3 pm ET, ESPN, LIVE CHAT on MLSsoccer.com), the Fire’s creative playmaker explained that he’s heading back to Argentina to sort out personal issues this weekend.
“I have personal problems, so this weekend, I’m returning to my country,” Grazzini said through a translator on Friday. “I have to see whether I can resolve the problem or not. … I just want to put it on record that I have no problem with the club, but I have to leave right now.”
Grazzini missed the last two games after the Fire picked up his contract option to keep him in Chicago for the rest of the 2012 season.
Although Grazzini is still under contract and on the Fire's roster, head coach Frank Klopas indicated that he doesn’t know when he’s coming back.
“He’s got family issues. I don’t know,” Klopas said. “When matters like that come, I think the most important thing is to take care of that situation. I think that’s the most important thing.”
When asked whether he expects to return from his trip home, Grazzini didn’t give a clear response.
“I want to tend to my problems,” he said.
Pappa staying or going
WATCH: Marco Pappa's golazo vs. Columbus
Reports out of the Netherlands have revealed that Dutch side Heerenveen are negotiating a transfer fee with the Fire for midfielder Marco Pappa.
The Guatemalan said on Friday that he could leave at any time or stay until the end of the season, when his MLS contract expires.
“To be honest, it could be next week and it could be at the end of the year,” Pappa said. “The window is still open in Europe, and I’m not sure what’s going on. I hope everything goes through soon.”
The 24-year-old has scored five goals this season, tied for the team lead.
“My mind is still here, working for the team,” he said. “For sure, I’m working for the future, but my mind is still here.”
MacDonald may be coming
Dutch forward Sherjill MacDonald tweeted on Wednesday that he’ll be in Chicago next week.
“I’m very glad that I go to Chicago,” he tweeted.
Klopas, though, said nothing is finalized.
“That’s great for him,” Klopas said of MacDonald’s tweets. “When something is finalized, we will let everybody know.”
