Impact’s release of Arguez gives him freedom to say yes or no to FC Edmonton

Bryan Arguez

For FC Edmonton supporters, the good news is that the Montreal Impact have released Bryan Arguez. For FC Edmonton supporters, the bad news is that the Montreal Impact have released Bryan Arguez.

FCE, which had the midfielder on loan from the Impact for the second half of the 2012 NASL season, has made no secret that it wants Arguez back. And the club confirmed late Friday that it remains in talks with Arguez’s camp.

But this is where it gets complicated. Had the Impact picked up Arguez’s option, it could have then re-loaned him back to Edmonton or given Edmonton a window in which to acquire his rights outright. But, by cutting him loose, the Impact has given Arguez what amounts to NASL free agency.

If Arguez goes back to Division-2, he isn’t compelled to take Edmonton’s offer over any other team. So, FCE will need to make an independent offer for Arguez and convince him to come back under a new head coach, in Colin Miller. Just like signing a free agent, FCE will need to convince Arguez that there is hope for the future.

But Arguez is a Floridian, and there are many playing options there. He is a former Fort Lauderdale Striker. There is no doubt that many of the NASL franchises would welcome him with open arms.

So, with freedom comes choice. And Arguez now has more leverage when dealing with Edmonton than he had before. He can shop himself around.

The Impact announced Friday that Arguez, Italian veteran Bernardo Corradi and Colombian midfielder Miguel Montano, who was sent on loan after an embarrassing incident on the Montreal metro, will not be back. As well, midfielder Justin Mapp withdrew from Friday’s MLS Re-Entry draft, indicating he will negotiate with Montreal and wants to return in 2013. Mapp made over US$200,000 last season.

Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft, which forces teams selecting players to pick up the options or make “bona fide” offers to match what they were making in 2012, saw just one player make a move. The Chicago fire claimed striker Maicon Santos from D.C. United.