Saputo heads to Europe

THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact are still hunting for that elusive designated player to boost the club's entry into Major League Soccer.

Impact president Joey Saputo sent a Twitter message on Thursday that said: "DP or not DP. On my way to Europe to meet with one of our prospects. Need to be patient."

He added in French that "we are continuing to work on finding a DP."

The Impact have had talks with a few veteran stars from European leagues, including Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Nicolas Anelka, so far to no avail.

Saputo was accompanied on the trip by technical director Nick De Santis. A team spokesman gave no other details of the trip.

MLS allows clubs to sign up to three designated players, who are paid more than the league salary cap limit.

The Impact became the league's 19th franchise this year. They play their opening game March 10 against the Whitecaps in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, former Impact coach Marc Dos Santos has been named director of the academy of one of Brazil's top clubs, Palmeiras.

The 34-year-old Dos Santos, who led Montreal to a North American Soccer League title in 2009, resigned in mid-season last summer with the team struggling to win games in its final year in second division.

"The job hasn't been defined 100 per cent yet, but for the club what's important is that I get to know the people, the culture and how things work," Dos Santos told The Canadian Press. "It's a very different reality from what I've known in the past."

After leaving the Impact, Dos Santos coached the junior squad for one of Brazil's regional clubs. He said eight-time Brazilian league champion Palmeiras was impressed that he took Primeira Camisa's under-20 team to its best finish ever at the Copa Sao Paulo last month.

Palmeiras is managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, who coached Brazil to a World Cup title in 2002 and later coached Portugal's national team.