TFC swings deal with Fire to acquire rookie forward
Altidore could also be available for Saturday game
On the eve of the kickoff of a home-and-home series, Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire pulled off a deal with midfielder Nicolas Hasler going to the Windy City in exchange for forward Jon Bakero and $50,000 in general allocation money.
Bakero will need to get his Canadian work permit and receive his international transfer certificate before joining the lineup.
“We want to thank Nico for his contributions to TFC over the past year. He was an important contributor to our championship season last year and our run in the Champions League this year,” Toronto FC vice-president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a release. “With this trade, we acquire a forward in Jon Bakero who can provide us with some depth at that position while also clearing some cap space. Jon was the MAC Hermann Trophy winner last year, (is) an intelligent soccer player and is a solid prospect that we are happy to add to our club.”
The struggling club intends to be active in the trade and transfer market, though a number of starters are expected to return to action over the next two weeks, including Jozy Altidore, who made the trip to Orlando July 14 and could feature in the lineup at Chicago Saturday, according to head coach Greg Vanney.
Bakero, 21, played for Wake Forest University and was selected fifth in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
He scored 37 goals in 88 matches and won a number of awards, including the MAC Hermann Trophy, which goes to the top NCAA Division 1 men’s soccer player. He is six-foot-two and hails from Barcelona.
Meanwhile Altidore, who underwent foot surgery May 8, has been training for a couple of weeks and is eager to return. “I’m excited to play. I wish it could be under better circumstances,” Altidore told reporters after training Friday before the club headed to Chicago.
He had competed for 18 months with a broken foot.
“I held out as long as I could, but now I feel good and my foot feels better and I could have a good end to the season,” Altidore said.
Vanney indicated Altidore would only see spot work for the time being until he works his way up to full match fitness.
Defender Chris Mavinga could also return after a lengthy absence of his own.
UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT
The bad behaviour by some TFC fans in Ottawa Wednesday was still a major topic a couple of days later.
“Sometimes good ideas are bad ideas, sometimes they go incredibly wrong,” Vanney said.
“It’s about the right balance from being an avid, enthusiastic and passionate supporter, but also keeping the environment safe and appropriate for everybody.”
Altidore added that while fans are incredibly important to creating great soccer environments, safety should be paramount.
Via Twitter, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group CEO Mark Goudie, whose company owns Ottawa Fury FC, took some shots at those who lit off firecrackers and flares, causing damage in Ottawa.
“To the small Toronto group who lit our stadium on fire and put our guests at risk. … I’m sorry that you are unhappy with how your lives are turning out and the embarrassment you bring to your club and city. You aren’t supporters. I hope you can pull your personal crap together,” Goudie tweeted.
CAPOTOSTO TO LEAD ACADEMY
TFC announced Friday that Anthony Capotosto will helm its academy. Capotosto has spent 10 seasons with the academy, recently serving as assistant academy director.
“Throughout his time with our club, Anthony has always shown his passion for educating our young athletes and his commitment to our soccer philosophy and curriculum at TFC,” Bezbatchenko said in a release.
“We are very proud to promote a very talented Canadian coach and educator into the director position. Anthony’s continual desire to learn and improve will have both an immediate and lasting effect on our teams.”
With the promotion, Capotosto resigned from his posts as men’s head coach and manager of soccer at the University of Toronto.
FARIA SIGNS
Jordan Faria, 18, has signed a professional contract with TFC II, becoming the 38th player to sign professionally from the TFC Academy. He first joined at the age of 13. He has made eight appearances for TFC II and represented Canada at the U17 and U15 levels.
GAME ON
TFC and Chicago will meet each of the next two Saturdays. Toronto is seven points back of the eighth-place club with two games in a hand. The Fire sits four points behind Montreal for the East’s final playoff spot. TFC won 3-1 at Chicago during its record-setting season last year.
The Fire has dropped three straight, while TFC has lost four of five, though Chicago boasts a pair of ninegoal scorers in Aleksandar Katai and Nemanja Nikolic, who was named the best MLS player at the ESPYs after scoring 24 goals last season.