The Columbus Crew have a healthy history of unearthing largely unknowns from the South American continent and bringing them to Major League Soccer as major success stories. Look no further than the most recent crop, Designated Player Federico Higuaín and Matías Sánchez, for proof of this.
While it's nice to find the "diamond in the rough" from time to time and skirt around paying exorbitant transfer fees and wages, every now and then splashing out for the big name to put your side over the top may just be necessary.
And according to a report from The Columbus Dispatch beat writer Adam Jardy following training on Tuesday, head coach Robert Warzycha made it sound like he was considering doing just that for an established, if not past his prime, Brazilian-born former Portugal national team midfield star.
At least that seemed to be the case for a little more than an hour before the Crew brought the hammer down on the fledgling rumor (see below).
You all remember Deco, the star for Porto and Barcelona for much of the 2000s who never enjoyed the same successes after a big-money move to Chelsea in 2008. In 2010, Deco moved back to Brazil — Brasileiro side Fluminense — and may yet have one last overseas stint left in his career.
With midfielder Eddie Gaven recently lost for the year to an ACL injury, Deco wouldn't have been the world's worst choice while Gaven recovers and the Crew continue their playoff push in 2013.
But if this rumor got Crew fans excited, they promptly had some cold water dumped on their heads. Before the report even made it onto MLSsoccer.com, this came from Jardy:
Then Columbus president and GM Mark McCullers delivered the final death blow to a name that was barely in the wind for an hour.
"We are not in discussions with Deco," McCullers said in a statement. "He's a well-known player, but not somebody we're in discussions with or would probably be interested in during this transfer window."
Well, the hullabaloo was fun while it lasted.
What do you make of this? Were you excited by the prospect? Would Deco actually be a good fit in Columbus?
