BY MICHAEL GARDNER– FAN FUEL BLOGGER
Excitement hit the Major League Soccer world with news that AC Milan Defender Alessandro Nesta is considering a move across the ocean.
Nesta, 36, seems to fit the bill for aging stars looking to come to North America to extend their careers and their paycheques. This rumour picked up steam when Nesta spoke to a press conference on Thursday of last week.
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“This was my last season with Milan,” Nesta said at a news conference. “I’ve evaluated everything and the high pace of the Italian league, the Champions League and the Italian Cup means that I can’t play all the time. And I’m not one to sit and wait on the bench. I would very happily go to the United States, it would be a good experience.”
If it materializes, Nesta would join a list of 23 Designated Players currently under contract in the MLS that include the likes of Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane and David Beckham. Teams may sign a maximum of three Designated Players and can pay them whatever they like. At most they only count $350,000 towards the salary cap.
Nesta certainly has the experience to help anyone’s backline and no backline in the league needs help more than Toronto FC. What would have to happen for him to end up here?
There could be a case made for the league to be interested in a Nesta joining Toronto. Since Toronto FC’s profitability may be in decline, a move like this could shore up one of the league’s only cash cows. Or at least, keep it giving milk until season ticket renewals are over.
However, it would seem highly unlikely that Toronto is his preferred destination. Joining a struggling team just doesn’t seem like a project a superstar would have any interest in taking on.
From the league’s perspective, despite the desire to keep the cow healthy, having him end up in non-major U.S. television market seems less than ideal.
It would also be a lot of roster work for Toronto, who already have three Designated Players in Julian De Guzman, Danny Koevermans and Torsten Frings. To make room for one more, the three in the bed would have to roll over and one would have to fall out. The most likely to fall would be Julian De Guzman whose $1.94M contract runs out at the end of the year.
The options? Trade him, loan him, or buy him out.
While a trade seems unlikely, a loan may be a possibility and it would have to take place this summer during the transfer window. That said, a loan would most likely require Toronto to continue to pay the wages and that could have a significant impact on profitability.
League rules do allow for a mid-season buy out of Designated Players. However, they also specify that the salary budget charge remains. Swallowing a significant salary at this point in time, while still incurring cap charges seems to be a far-fetched scenario for any owner.
There is the added question as to whether adding a player with declining skills is the best route to go. Toronto’s Designated Players are often injured and rely primarily on inexperienced players to make up the gap. The jury is still out as to whether this is a more effective tool for selling tickets or winning championships.
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