MONTREAL – Montreal Impact’s Nick De Santis had to mix a bit of displeasure in with a recent scouting trip to Argentina.
The Impact's director of international business development was informed that their newly signed Designated Player Ignacio Piatti would be undergoing knee surgery – quite the undesirable bit of news considering the team’s impending rebuilding process.
Still, De Santis was able to get to the business of scouting as well.
He attended several games in Argentina, including a 2-0 San Lorenzo win against Boca Juniors on Nov. 2 that Piatti, formerly of San Lorenzo, also attended, but the two were not seated together.
Back in Montreal since Monday night, De Santis told MLSsoccer.com that he took the opportunity to explore the Argentine market in the hopes of bolstering the Impact roster.
“Clearly, the club’s looking for midfielders and central defenders as well,” De Santis said on Thursday. “In Argentina, it’s more about central midfielders. There were several options there. Now, it’s up to the staff to evaluate these options in Argentina, and there’ll be other options in different markets.”
De Santis didn’t identify those options but did mention one young Argentine winger by name. Only this player has been in Montreal for two years, on loan from Brazilian club Tombense: Andres Romero.
Romero, Montreal’s club-named MVP in 2014, has yet to transfer permanently to the Impact, but De Santis said he had a positive meeting with his agent in Argentina.
“With his age and what he’s done in the last years, it’s a player that can give important things to the club,” De Santis said. “On our side, we want him to stay in Montreal. And on his side, as well, the player and his agent have told me that he wanted to stay here. Now, we have to find the best possible deal between the two parties, and we’re confident it can happen.”
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De Santis is also confident that Piatti will be back healthy – and early – next season. The Impact announced on Nov. 6 that Piatti had undergone a bursectomy for tendinitis in his left knee.
Piatti’s surgeon made a good impression on De Santis and kept Montreal’s entire technical staff in the loop. Piatti made the final decision, which the staff is “comfortable with,” De Santis said, adding that Piatti will convalesce in Argentina and return to Montreal for the opening of training camp.
“They still removed a small piece of the tendon where there was a lot of inflammation,” De Santis said. “They cut the tendon short a bit, and now, what’s important is really to remove all the scar tissue that produces in there. It’s still a very simple recovery.”
