Red Bulls, De Rosario would discuss new contract: Sources

Dwayne De Rosario was in the process of bring traded from Toronto FC to the New York Red Bulls on Friday. That deal has now hit a snag.

But sources indicate De Rosario’s camp was working out a new, improved deal with the Red Bulls, one that could possibly make TFC’s all time leading scorer and the four-time MLS Cup winner a Designated Player in New York. No deal is in place at this time.

And, there are reports that there is a hitch in the New York trade and that De Rosario could actually be shopped to another suitor. But, it is clear that the GM who lands him will need to be willing to negotiate a new deal.

Reporters knew something was up this morning when Toronto FC sent out a bulletin warning that the club’s Friday training session would be closed to the media, and that team members would be available at a press availability to be held at BMO ield later in the day. As the story was breaking across Canada, reporters expected a confirmation of the deal, which didn’t happen. Instead, technical director Aron Winter said De Rosario was still a member of the club, but admitted he didn’t train with the team Friday, and that the team was shopping him.

Rumoured to have been coming back to TFC in the on-hold NYRB deal is defender Danleigh Borman, 2010 first-round draft pick Tony Tchani and a future first-round pick.

Borman made just $40,000 a year ago and Tchani is Generation Adidas, which means no cap hit. So, if Toronto FC isn’t eating any of De Rosario’s contract a la the deal that sent Carl Robinson to New York in 2010, there should be significant savings on the salary cap, almost US$400,000 worth.

Soccer By Ives reports that there could be a snag in the deal because of the legal status of one of the players going the other way.

So, that begs the question. Is there another shoe that is going to drop. Is the space cleared by the De Rosario deal going to be filled by another player that TFC has yet to sign?

For De Rosario, the chance to link up with Thierry Henry and the underrated Joel Lindpere in the New York midfield is a chance for him to write a great final chapter in his MLS career.

It’s a sad end to what was supposed to be a fairy-tale time for De Rosario. Think back to January 22, 2009, when he put pen to paper on a four-year deal with TFC.

“I was asked about it a lot over the last two years, and I always said that I’d like to play for TFC one day. That day has come,” he said as he signed the contract.

But, despite playing out of position much of the time, De Rosario quickly showed why he was so valuable. In 2010, he accounted for more than half of the team’s scoring.

But there was no hiding his frustrations over the lack of success Toronto FC had on the field, and because the team did not give him Designated Player status. Late last season, in an infamous loss to San Jose, De Rosario mimicked the signing of a cheque after scoring a goal, which distanced himself from the TFC fan base.

Then, in December, De Rosario was at odds with the club. He claimed to have permission from the team to train with Scottish giants Celtic, but the club claimed it had no knowledge of the deal. De Rosario claimed that he had received all the proper authorizations from the Reds. Paperwork was eventually worked out, and eventually De Rosario was recalled to Canada by new technical director Aron Winter, even though Celtic wanted him to stay and play with the club for another month.

There have been more off-the-record sources and Deep Throats around De Rosario and TFC than a presidential scandal. With so much being said off the record, it is hard to piece together the truth. The 11 received multiple confirmations that De Rosario had done the paperwork right the first time around.

And, because of the number of regime changes at TFC, it is hard to put together a solid timeline from its side.

As for the money, various sources have told The 11 that De Rosario was originally told that TFC wanted to present a DP offer, but would not be allowed by MLS to convert his contract into a DP deal. When word came that MLS would allow the deal, TFC revoked its promise.

But the allegations of broken promises have come since shortly after De Rosario came on board.

This much is clear. De Rosario, if he goes to New York, can give the Red Bulls the clutch performer it needs to compete with the likes of Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids. He gives the Red Bulls needed depth in the offensive department. No matter your opinion of DeRo the man, there is no doubting DeRo, the player — the best clutch player in the history of MLS.