Contrary to what most observers and fans might have thought, the arrival of Marco Di Vaio will not lead to the renewing of his good friend Bernardo Corradi’s contract with the Montreal Impact.
SoccerPlus has learned that the top goalscorer of the MLS expansion side is a few weeks away from returning to Italy.
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A European source confirmed a few days ago that Bernardo Corradi will not use the option following his four-month contract with the Impact. This scenario was planned from the start with the player’s agent, Federico Pastorello who is also Marco Di Vaio’s agent.
When Pastorello met with Impact’s president Joey Saputo and Sporting Director Nick DeSantis this winter in Italy, Corradi’s case was presented to Montreal as a solution before the arrival of the Designated Player at the end of June.
Saputo spoke of a pleasant surprise describing Corradi on his return as the club had already resumed training ahead of its inaugural MLS season. The president had left to get his first DP, he returned with a deal and an extra man, Corradi, a 36-year-old ex-national team member who was playing on the bench for Serie A side Udinese.
Although he absolutely loved Montreal and his North American experience, Corradi could not deal with the separation from his young child still living in Italy. This lead him to his decision to cross back the Atlantic once his deal with Montreal completed.
Since the beginning of the season, Bernardo Corradi rose on top of Montreal goalscoring column (14th in MLS) with four goals in 10 of the team’s 13 games. He scored his first three goals in consecutive games, including the first on a penalty in a 2-1 away loss to Dallas, s second on a header in a 1-1 away tie to DC United and a third on penalty in a 2-0 home victory over the Portland Timbers.
He scored his fourth and latest goal in the 2-1 loss to NYRB in the final game at Olympic Stadium.
The Montreal Impact’s communications department said Corradi still had a contract with the club and that he will resume training with his teammates on Friday after missing Thursday’s practice on a extra day off. The Impact’s next game is June 16 against the Seattle Sounders, marked by the reopening of a revamped Saputo Stadium.