Real Salt Lake finally pulled its wallet out this week, and did something that it needed to. The club signed forward Alvaro Saborio, to a long-term designated player deal.
It was important for several reasons: first off, RSL has never had a designated player so this is new ground for the club. Second, it provides just a glimmer of hope that RSL will someday sign a player like a David Beckham or Ronaldinho.
Terms of Saborio’s deal were not disclosed--usually the case in these kinds of contracts--but it is good through the end of the 2014 season, and it follows last week’s other important non-DP signing, San Jose midfielder Arturo Alvarez.
What makes it so important, in the grand scheme, is that it gives RSL an opportunity to build the team around Saborio, knowing he isn’t going anywhere.
Believe me, that has been a problem for fans in the past, not knowing each offseason who’s staying and who’s going.
Not only that, signing Saborio to a designated player deal is the right thing to do.
Saborio, Major League Soccer’s Newcomer of the Year award winner, undoubtedly deserved the new contract based on his numbers in 2010 (18 goals through MLS and CONCACAF Champions League play).
“First and foremost, I must express the deepest gratitude to Real Salt Lake ownership for stepping up and making the moves necessary to keep this team together. We are delighted that Álvaro has made a long-term commitment to Real Salt Lake, and we hope this signing contributes to our future success. Our attendance has steadily increased since we moved into Rio Tinto Stadium and that increased fan support is one of the primary reasons we as an organization were able to make this happen. As our franchise continues to grow we will continue to plow resources back into the team to give us the best chance to win. Without their fervent dedication to our sport and our stadium in this community, we would be unable to make the Team the Star it has become locally, nationally and regionally.” - RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey
In another way, it’s nice for the fans to know that they too have given back to not only their community by helping keep its top scorer from going elsewhere, but that they had a part in him staying.
It could have easily went the other way, with the Costa Rican heading out the back door and on to another club in Europe or South America.
If you don’t believe me, look at FC Dallas and the player it lost during last week’s MLS Expansion Draft. For RSL, losing a DaxMcCarty type would have been tantamount to the club losing Kyle Beckerman, if you can imagine that. In comparison, losing Saborio would have been akin to Landon Donovan bolting L.A.
Moreover, RSL fans don’t have to look over their shoulder thinking that Saborio isn’t coming back; now a key piece to the club staying competitive and talented has been filled.
Now the only piece remaining is forward Paulo Junior, another bright player who impressed club staff with his play, particularly in CONCACAF Champions League.
It would be an absolute travesty if the club lost the Brazilian, but it’s important to remember that, sometimes, signing a player like Saborio does result in a team sacrificing some other facet of its operation.
In the meantime, RSL supporters can rest easy knowing that the club had its supporters’ interests in mind all along. The only question now, is what jersey number Saborio wears when the club suits up against Columbus in February.
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