TFC 2013-2014 Off-Season player moves/speculation/rumours/etc. thread

[OgtheDim]

Who the heck is Jorge Valdivia? One name I havn't heard yet.

Anybody know anything beyond a google search?

[evermorian]

Random tweet mentioningus:

Ricardo Pinilla O. ‏@RicardoPinilla4 1h Molaría ver a Alberto Gilardino y Jorge Valdivia en un mismo equipo, en este caso, la MLS. Ambos suenan fuertemente para Toronto FC.

Rough translation: Be cool to see Alberto Gilardino and Jorge Valdivia on the same team, in this case the MLS. Both sound strongly for Toronto FC.

Does this tweet imply that Jorge Valdivia might be coming to TFC too? Plays in the Brazilian Serie B as a creative midfielder (classic 10). Over 100 appearances for Palmeiras; seems like he would be a good fit.

[Areathrasher]

Gilberto is in Larry Tannenbaums box at the Raptors game tonight.

Kelly just tweeted it.

Sorry, Courtside seats.

Game is on Sportsnet at 7.

[sidvan]

Gilberto is in Larry Tannenbaums box at the Raptors game tonight.

Kelly just tweeted it.

cathalkelly ‏@cathalkelly8m
TFC's Brazilian DP target Gilberto will be sitting in Larry Tanenbaum's courtside seats at tonight's Raptors game.

[Whoop]

Guess Kelly has an in now with the organization.

[TFC1154ever]

O shit, this week is gonna be interesting..... Guy were linked to at Raptor game, Big announcement at the end of the week, and a new GOOD Chilean AM being linked to us. F5 ready

[moralis]

So much for Gilardino signing with TFC. Gilberto and Gilardino are similar players. Can't see Gilardino signing. Now the Jackson signing makes sense.

[mcolvy]

This is getting to be too much.

Maybe get drinks with Drake after the game?

Well played MLSE. Thats exactly the way its done. There is a certain lifestyle to being a top athlete with MLSE in Toronto and its a convincing factor for these guys.

[OgtheDim]

Which Gilberto are we talking about again?

Bebel is a bit too old....


and female....


and a singer.


(Google is not my friend tonight)

[Areathrasher]

The man himself.

[sidvan]

Michael Grange ‏@michaelgrange3m
Okay TFC Fans .... Name this Brazilian soccer dude and you might have know who Toronto's next DP is pic.twitter.com/RagwR8QFn6

[notthesun]

Sounds like a deal then.

On to Defoe.

[Areathrasher]

Is that a Raptors or TFC scarf he is wearing??

[Richard]

Hey at least he dressed for the weather .

That's a good signing for me, young with some really good upside.

[BuSaPuNk]

Is that a Raptors or TFC scarf he is wearing??

TFC.

[notthesun]

Okay, so we can assume Kelly has a source within TFC. He was bang on the money when a number of people, myself included, thought there might have been confusion with the similarly named Gilberto from Philadelphia.

Since his info seems solid, looking at the rest of that article, our prospects of landing Defoe seem pretty damn good. Especially considering Wileman's independent tweet that progress on the Defoe front is going well, which is consistent with Kelly's article.

[Phil]

John Molinaro had tweeted that Tim B had an informal chat with the media and to expect a signing this week. Maybe Cathal was there too?

[Whoop]

Yup that's Gilberto Oliveira Souza Junior.

[ArmenJBX]

John Molinaro had tweeted that Tim B had an informal chat with the media and to expect a signing this week. Maybe Cathal was there too?

Cathal is also a Raptors reporter so he could have heard about it from that side of the organization as well.

[mowe]

He was bang on the money when a number of people, myself included, thought there might have been confusion with the similarly named Gilberto from Philadelphia.

Can I just say that that whole "confusion" angle was ridiculous. A Brazilian journalist who covers the Brasileiro on a regular basis and who specifically said Gilberto of Inter, loaned to Portuguesa somehow mixed him up with a random MLS player.

Anyway good to see him in a TFC scarf already. One down, one to go.

[Whoop]

Haha just looked at his nicknames.

Giba, Gibagol, Cara de pombo (Pigeon face), Canhão do Nordeste (Cannon of/from the Northeast)

I guess the last one is best.

[Haddy]

Nothing's official until he's holding up the jersey. But this is definitely good news.

And good on MLSE for being entirely void of subtlety and secrecy during this visit - not like them. Box seats, sure, but courtside in front of all kinds of cameras...I'm almost in shock.

[backbeat]

so how did we get to Gilberto anyway?

it had always sounded like TL wanted to bring in 2 big name DPs - one from Italy and one from England - or so it seemed

did he hear the supporters saying names don't matter, results do???

and where/how did Gilberto suddenly appear on the radar and is he what folks believe we need??

random thoughts....

[moralis]

Hi Armen,

You wrote last week that TFC were close to signing with Gilardino. The only thing needed was a signature from TFC and himself. That's what the Correiro Canadese reporter who spoke with Gilardino agent said. Gianluca Di Marzio said the same thing.

http://www.vavel.com/en-us/mls/30873...oronto-fc.html

Can you find out if this is the case

[ArmenJBX]

I'm still on the story every day (hour, minute, second, and it's exam time, phew!)

I believe Toronto FC is pushing both deals (Defoe, Gilardino) to the point of closure and then making a final decision. I spoke with Cathal, who told me Defoe is the preferred option. However, it looks like Spurs won't sell him until they find a replacement (but that could just be talk, as clubs do).

So, it's really going to come down to who TFC picks in the final hour.

[Areathrasher]

Whoever said Gilberto is going out for a drink with Drake tonight...

Drake is at the game also

[Haddy]

However, it looks like Spurs won't sell him until they find a replacement (but that could just be talk, as clubs do).

Well, you have to admit, Spurs can't really afford to allow any forwards to leave without an immediate replacement.

[ArmenJBX]

Well, you have to admit, Spurs can't really afford to allow any forwards to leave without an immediate replacement.

I refuse to say bad things about my former Valencia captain, Roberto Soldado...but yes, you're absolutely right...​unfortunately.

[Abou Sky]

Hmmm... Do you think it means something that the only ad I got when I searched 'Gilberto Oliveira Souza Junior' was for TFC season tickets?

[jazzy]

I'm still on the story every day (hour, minute, second, and it's exam time, phew!)

I believe Toronto FC is pushing both deals (Defoe, Gilardino) to the point of closure and then making a final decision. I spoke with Cathal, who told me Defoe is the preferred option. However, it looks like Spurs won't sell him until they find a replacement (but that could just be talk, as clubs do).

So, it's really going to come down to who TFC picks in the final hour.

I may have missed it somewhere but what is the cost of Gilardino ? If Defoe is approx $50 M all in .