It seems as though Toronto FC have finally found a resolution to their we’ve got too many Designated Players problem (again).
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Toronto are all set to loan 25-year-old Brazilian forward Gilberto, last winter’s “unsung” DP signing (Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe) to Vasco da Gama until the end of 2015, according a report by Brazilian website GloboEsporte.com. He will reportedly sign with the Brazilian club before Tuesday, putting TFC in compliance with Major League Soccer roster regulations, which state a team shall not have more than three DP’s on their roster at one time.
There were suggestions that with Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations taking place, MLS may raise the DP limit to four for the 2015 season, but TFC either feel that isn’t likely to happen, or the chance to have Gilberto’s wages paid in full was too good a proposition to pass up in favor of a pipe dream.
Gilberto was always going to be the odd man out when TFC again splashed the cash this winter, signing U.S. national team star Jozy Altidore and Italian playmaker Sebastian Giovinco. Gilberto scored seven goals (five of which came during the final three months of the season) and assisted on five more in his one MLS season.
