Could the Portland Timbers be on the verge of their fifth Argentine signing in the last two years?
After forward Gastón Fernández, defender Norberto Paparatto and striker Maximiliano Urruti followed Diego Valeri to Cascadia, reports in Argentina claim that midfielder Agustín Pelletieri could be joining them.
The online edition of the Diario de Mendoza indicated on Thursday that Pelletieri rescinded his contract with Argentine club Racing "to begin to negotiate his arrival with the Portland Timbers."
The Timbers did not respond to an MLSsoccer.com request for comment on the story.
On Friday, Pelletieri told Fox Sports Radio del Plata that only "details remain" to seal his move to the United States. In the same interview he indicated he would have liked to stay at Racing, but apparently he didn't figure in the coach's plans for the upcoming season.
Racing's president also reportedly confirmed to Radio La Red: "An idol is leaving. The doors are open for his return because he's a supporter of the club."
A site dedicated to covering the Argentine side, Racing.com.ar, claims that the team is set to receive around $180,000 from the next club to sign the midfielder and that the "most concrete interest comes from MLS in the United States."
The Timbers currently have eight international slots and they are all filled by: Kalif Alhassan, Alvas Powell, Frederic Piquionne, Pa Modou Kah, Urruti, Fernández, Paparatto and Valeri. And that's assuming that Mikaël Silvestre will not be returning to the club as indicated by The Oregonian on Friday.
