Seattle Sounders FC signed Friday Argentine midfielder Mauro Rosales, who is expected to add experience and skill to an already strong midfield corps.
Details of Rosales’ contract were not disclosed by Major League Soccer. But it is known that Rosales, 30, is not a designated player. Negotiations with Rosales were well under way when the Sounders decided to cut ties with DP forward Blaise Nkufo before the opener Tuesday.
Rosales is eligible to play against the New York Red Bulls Saturday but it’s unclear whether he will be with the squad traveling to New York.
Rosales, 30, has been capped 10 times (one goal) by Argentina and was a member of the gold-medal winning team at the 2004 Olympic Games, the 2001 FIFA U20 World Cup and the 2004 Copa America runners-up. He played the past four years for Buenos Aires giant River Plate.
“Mauro brings a lot of experience to our team,” said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC coach. “He’s a playmaking type of midfielder with good quickness and clever passing. We’re excited to have him join our team.”
Rosales scored 39 goals in 234 league matches for Newell’s Old Boys, Ajax and River Plate.
“I am very excited to start playing for the Sounders,” said Rosales. “This is a great opportunity, to play in this league and for one of the biggest teams in the USA. I’m especially happy to be joining such fantastic players and staff and such a great organization.”
Rosales has played nearly 400 matches in South America and Europe. He was a member of two Ajax teams that twice won the Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup. Rosales played for River Plate when Los Millionarios claimed the 2008 Argentine Clausura.
He joined Sounders in late February during the club’s preseason training in Florida and was dubbed The Trialist for purposes of keeping other teams from knowing Rosales was training with the team.
