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Toronto FC has traded newly-signed Argentine forward Maximiliano Urruti to the Portland Timbers in exchange for Nigerian international Bright Dike, a first round draft pick in 2015 and allocation money, as per a news release from the club. Urruti, 22, signed for Toronto FC on August 16 and only featured in two games, playing a measly 37 minutes, before being shipped off to Portland.
It’s a shocking trade, considering the transfer saga to bring Urruti to Toronto FC lasted more than half a year. Pat Onstad was sent down to Argentina numerous times to scout the player; Kevin Payne publically stated his intention to sign the forward; Earl Cochrane, presumably, wrapped up the signing, as was his responsibilities at the club – was being the key word, since all three have been fired by Tim Leiweke.
It seems like this may be the reason why; Urruti’s absence from the starting line up was odd, but was chalked up to not being match fit. However, the more likely scenario now is that Urruti did not impress Ryan Nelsen. Payne spent the entirety of the summer transfer window chasing Urruti, which accomplished nothing if not to raise the expectations on Urruti to an all time high. Payne staked his reputation as a club president on the line, picking up Urruti and foregoing the signings of any major Designated Players, though he did promise that the club was looking to sign a few.
The more important question now is where Toronto FC goes from here? It seems strange that the power dynamic behind the club has shifted so dramatically in the last few weeks, with Nelsen dictating his squad at last. Sending Urruti to Portland is certainly a strange decision, but one that makes financial sense, as many have pointed out; there are reports that Urruti would have become a Designated Player in 2014 but Leiweke is looking at bigger names than him, telling Toronto FC’s media during a press call that he was searching in Italy for a DP signing; he reaffirmed this during a barbeque for Toronto FC supporters, saying he would be looking to sign a DP forward(s).
Then there’s the matter of Bright Dike. The Timbers forward tore his ACL earlier this year but recovered from his injury. He made the bench against Toronto FC, during the 4-0 loss at Jeld-Wen Field. He scored six goals in 23 appearances for Portland. Dike offers Toronto FC another option up top, where only the stuttering Robert Earnshaw and the sometimes-deadly Andrew Wiedeman exist. In any case, Dike’s performances won’t be the main storyline of this transfer, though it could be soon. He is a powerful, physical forward, the kind of player Toronto FC has lacked up top since Danny Koevermans’ repeated injury stints.
Urruti’s time at Toronto FC was short, but it brought about the end of yet another era at Toronto FC. Whether or not Ryan Nelsen is capable of leading and building this squad for next season remains to be seen. However, there is a definite change at Toronto FC once more, and while Leiweke continues the search for a “capologist” general manager, Toronto will continue to plug along in 2013, looking for wins and establishing a core group of players. Unfortunately for Urruti, he isn’t part of that core anymore.
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