Transfer Latest! - Remi Gets His Man!

The strongly rumored move of Uruguayan international Alejandro Silva from Argentinian Super Liga club Atletico Lanus has finally materialized.

It’s great news for the Montreal Impact faithful. Silva is a top class capture at the peak of his career.

The player comes via the use of targeted allocation money (TAM) and will join the club on a three-year deal, upon receiving his international transfer certificate and of course, passing the obligatory medical.

“Alejandro is an attacking player who will bring his experience to the team and increase our options in the last third,” said Montreal head coach Remi Garde. “His passing qualities and speed will contribute in improving our play. His high work rate also makes him an option as a midfielder.”

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Garde has obviously assessed his playing personnel and the league, coming to the reasonable conclusion that waiting until the summer for reinforcements, as at first planned, was not an option.

AUTOMATIC CHOICE

An automatic choice for Lanus over the past two and a half seasons, the Uruguayan has appeared in no fewer than two Copa Libertadores Cup Finals; 2013 with Paraguay’s Olimpia, when he scored in the home leg against Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro (lost on pens), and last year when his Argentinian club lost to another Brazilian outfit, Gremio Port Alegre (1-3 agg).

He’s also faced Belo Horizonte-based, Atletico Mineiro in another continental final - the Copa Sudamericana - in 2014, when there was more heartbreak, his Lanus side losing after taking the second leg, away from home, into extra-time.

Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images

So plenty of high-level, continental club experience for the four times capped Uruguayan.

He arrives having played 14 times this season in the Super Liga for Lanus, who lie a disappointing 21^st (out of 28), after 20 matches played. But it’s been an eventful last half-dozen matches for the 28 year-old, with three goals, including 2 from the spot (he was Lanus’ regular penalty-taker), and a couple of yellow cards. The cards came in each leg of the Copa Sudamericana first round tussle with top Peruvians, Sporting Cristal. Lanus went through 5-4 on aggregate.

Silva can also point to one of those three recent goals, a winning one over River Plate. That’s always a big deal in Argentina! The Lanus number 10 followed up like any diligent striker would, to convert from eight yards after River ‘keeper Armani had pushed out Lautaro Acosta’s goalbound shot.

PIZZA?

Impact’s new signing looks certain to become big friends right from the off in Montreal, with Dominic Oduro. As a young boy back in Montevideo, Silva decided football was not for him, instead opting for the road of responsibility and finding a job as a pizza-delivery boy. Everyone at Stade Saputo knows Freaky Fast loves his pizza every bit as much as his flamboyant, creative and colourful hair-dos . . . . A friend awaits for the newcomer!

WORLD CUP

Impact fans concerned at losing their new signing for the duration of this summer’s World Cup, perhaps can rest easy. Silva has not been called up for any of Uruguay’s last six matches and looks currently at best to be on the periphery of national coach Oscar Tabarez’s plans. The player’s last appearance for his country was as a substitute last June’s Dublin friendly defeat to Republic of Ireland.

Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images

The Impact are also reputed to have acquired the signature of French centre back Rudy Camacho from Belgian “A” League club, SK Beveren-Waas. Camacho was rumored to have arrived via Trudeau airport, Friday, but the club has not yet made any official announcement regards the capture.