FCD Chases Ortega
July 20th, 2008 . By: Buzz Carrick
After the FC Dallas game against Colorado, FCD head man Schellas Hyndman informed some media of his desire to sign Ariel Ortega from River Plate. “John [Ellinger]’s going down there to look at Ortega,” said Hyndman. “We figured why not shoot for the moon.” 3rd Degree sources familiar with the situation said Ortega is looking for a contract in the range of $1mil US to come to American and has already expressed a willingness to do so after having discussed signing with another MLS team this spring. The $1mil US price tag would put Ortega in the Designated Player category for FCD. Hyndman has expressed a willingness to use the DP spot, but some fans will likely remain wary after the debacle that was the Denilson signing. A quick, darting forward or attacking midfielder with tremendous dribbling skill and dead ball striking ability, Ortega has played in three World Cup’s for Argentina and won a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Ortega just won the Clausura Championship with River in June. A notably explosive personality, Ortega has never stayed with one team long and has been treated for Alcoholism. Given the current state of the Argentine economy and the relative easy and uneventful life available in Dallas, or more specifically Friso/Plano, perhaps it’s not shocking that Ortega is interested in a move to MLS. With three former River Plate players on their roster, including Dario Sala who has twice been a teammate of Ortega at both River and Newell’s Old Boys, Dallas should be a good fit for El Burrito (The Little Donkey). So would River be willing to sell Ortega to Dallas? FC Dallas remains in discussion with Ortega’s current club about a strategic partnership as the big Argentine clubs (Boca, Independiente, and River) look for footholds in the US. Nothing would cement that relationship more than letting FCD buy the mercurial attacker and Ortega is about the biggest name River could send north to finally make the “River Plate North” nickname for FCD even more real. Losing him won’t damage their team all much with their talent base and Ortega would certainly be the best way to River to make a splash in the states. While he’s not as loved as Maradona, Mario Kempes, or the modern day boy wonder Lionel Messi, Ortega does remain a very famous name and fan favorite with 86 caps and 17 goals for his country. Ellinger is also scheduled to visit Atlético Paranaense on his trip and Dallas has two trialists in town, Victor Sikora and Assan Jatta. Hyndman also expressed the clubs interest in trying to sign Sikora, but acknowledged that money might be a prohibiting factor. 31 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
[...] 3rd Degree is reporting that FC Dallas are trailing River Plate Attacking midfielder Ariel Ortega. The 34 year old has 86 caps for Argentina, and has stated he would consider playing in MLS for $1 million dollars a year. If FC Dallas were to approach Ortega, it would have to be as a Designated Player, which head coach Schellas Hyndman has stated he is willing to do. Ortega has made 44 appearances for Riverplate since joining in 2006, scoring 13 goals. What do you think? Would this be a good move for FC Dallas? Is he a good DP choice? [...]
Yes, this is what we need another Davino who’s past his prime and needs a paycheck. Why is he available from River Plate (he’s past it)….exactly and that’s why we don’t want him.
What? The guy scored a goal against Boca this year. Scoring a goal in one of the biggest matches in the world is a big deal.
This would clearly be a 1 year arrangement at most — lease another (much needed) scoring threat until Dax, Shea, Rocha, Avila, AA, Oduro, and Ricardinho (?) grow up a little.
Plus, if KCJ and/or Toja depart in the next couple of weeks (doubtful, but plausible), we’re going to need some help for the remainder of 2008.
Buzz, I’m disappointed to see how condescending you are about Argentina when you say:
“Given the current state of the Argentine economy and the relative easy and uneventful life available in Dallas, or more specifically Friso/Plano, perhaps it’s not shocking that Ortega is interested in a move to MLS.”
Coming from an American, whose economy is sliding toward an ugly recession, this criticism rings hollow. Why leave friends and family to move to Dallas? Why leave life in one of the world’s great cities for hour-long commutes anywhere you go?
El Burrito is going to make tons of money no matter where he goes. To say he should come to the US because it is a superior place to Argentina is just patronizing.
One of the greatest draws to US soccer is the fact that you are basically a nobody making big money while helping grow the sport. No death threats and maybe less paparazzi sound very good to the top soccer stars in the world - wouldn’t it sound good to you, especially at 35?
I hope we dont overpay another old “Past my Prime” World Star who is looking to Retire in “MLS”.
Although I hate River Plate, I’m for anything that could possibly improve the talent on this team. And its not our money. So who the @!#$ cares.
Nic,
Schelotto said basically the same thing last year.
http://www.dallasnews.com/shar...81107dnspofcdlede.355b091.html
I like it. I asked for Ortega a year ago.
he’d be a good catch. arthur- he wouldn’t come over just for a paycheck, believe me. the only problem i see is his alcoholism, he’s been in a battle for 10 yrs. or so. he almost recently (3/4 months) got kicked out of river because of it. didn’t show up to practice on time or at all. simeone(river’s coach) wouldn’t take his crap. would fc dallas?
there’s an article right know in ole.com : http://www.ole.clarin.com/nota...7/21/futbollocal/01719331.html . basically it says that their president loves him and that river won’t let him go. fcd is offering him 1.5 mil , which is 3 times what he earns now. and that frisco would be a great place to live and he wouldn’t have the pressures he know gets in argentina. good luck!
I like el burrito! Sounds cool. speaking of Schelotto, he deserved to be an ALL Star and if you look at his salary he should be making more.
Frank,
Don’t let the numbers fool you. All Argentine players have public and private contracts. The public one is used for tax purposes, the private one is all under the table. Any first team player has one. You can bet Ortega does — and that he’s making more than $1 million USD in Argentina where the US dollar goes a lot farther than it does in Frisco.
Burrito also said earlier this month that he wanted to leave River because of Simone.
on the article above they say that we average 19000 people at Pizza Hut park, lol…. who told them that?
“el estadio con capacidad para 23.000 espectadores que recibe una promedio de 19.000 visitas cada vez que el equipo sale a la cancha.”
This is total bull —- We are about to lose Cooper this week and we want to pay this money for a 34 year old. Take into account a transfer fee and salary for a guy who has lost his focus on being a pro. THIS IS A TYPICAL NASL MOVE ( Lets just reward bad behaviour Gentelmen ) Would somebody please tell me, with decision like this, just how the hell this franchise can possibly win !!!!
Nic, the ease of life I was referring to was in reference to the anonymity, lack of fame, and no-pressure media/fans we have here. Every famous player, including several of FCD’s current South Americans, to come to MLS has reference how nice it is to be able to go to dinner in peace. It was not a slight to Argentina.
Buzz, I understand what you meant now and can definitely see how getting out of the limelight would be nice for someone in Ortega’s situation. I was perhaps not being the most sympathetic reader.
On a semi-related note, it’s nice to see a blog, especially one dealing with MLS, where opinions can be expressed and exchanged constructively. It’s great that you foment that.
I certainly didn’t articulate it well int he article.
Thanks for the nice comment. We work hard to have multiple opinions expressed on the site, including all the readers.
I like Ortega but really wonder how well he will hold up in the US summer at age 34 and with the hacking allowed in MLS. Scheletto and Blanco have pulled it off but they seem sturdier players. Ortega is liek Vaca in size although certainly not not talent and experience. Roll the dice.
“Why doesn’t the team spend the money with proven, younger players in the league instead of going for the Denilson/Davino types (those have worked so well!!!)?”
Because those players want to go to Europe (see Toja & Cooper) and their price tags are out of range for the MLS budget.
The biggest concern here should be his personal issues, as Frisco certainly makes me want to drink. FCD is not equipped to babysit someone in the sunset of his career, even if they are prepared to pay them for it.
That said, if the Burrito has never seen Combat Master Schellas get kicked in the jewels at karate class, it will probably motivate him to do something, if not drink.
Pegasus - I think it is relatively simple - if he plays at a level that he is now, he will be more effective than Oduro or Abe. That will open up Cooper more, and Kenny has been more effective this year already.
I’m trying to keep my hopes reasonable, but this guy sure seems like The Fit.
This club needs a spark and this bloke looks like he could be the answer.
Looks like Ortega is not really willing to come and guess we will need to find somebody else
http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/ne...llas&prov=st&type=lgns
“I have no reception on my mobile phone,” he said. “I don’t know anything about the offer. I don’t know where that piece of news was published, but anyway, I want to stay (at River Plate).”
Pro-Sports to English Translation -
I cannot accept the first offer out of principle. More money please?
Cooper isn’t going any where. Yet. He wants to play for a big or semi-big European club not Rosenberg. I bet he would prefer to stay in Dallas where he has grew up and has lived for years than go to Rosenberg. Now if a bigger name club comes along it might be different.
Would FCD be happy to have Francis Doe or Sebastian LeToux right now? they are doing well with their clubs with the playing time and are the type of dynamic, multi-dimensional, soccer-smart players that SH is looking for.
We will have good news tomorrow, at least I hope so.. its a mid player
Ortega’s off field problems just seem a little troubling. He spent almost 2 years off the pitch trying to trreat his alcoholism only to suffer a setback shortly after his comeback. Also, he seems to have a bit of a temper and doesn’t like staying put.