Toronto FC pulls the plug on the Carlos Salcedo experiment

The Mexico international lasted only half of a season in Canada after signing as a Designated Player

Toronto FC has announced that the club and Carlos Salcedo have mutually agreed to terminate the defender’s contract as of July 15.

Salcedo was signed prior to the 2022 season with great fanfare. As a 28-year-old Mexico international with years of experience in the Bundesliga, Salcedo was expected to help shore up TFC’s backline.

Instead his performances were well below the expected standard of a Designated Player, with TFC near the bottom of the MLS standings and featuring one of the league’s leakiest defenses.

Earlier this month, Pro Soccer Wire reported that TFC was shopping Salcedo to teams in MLS and Liga MX, with the club ultimately deciding to simply terminate the defender’s contract.

“We’d like to thank Carlos for his efforts during a difficult time,” said TFC president Bill Manning in a statement. “In the end, Carlos felt it was most important to return to Mexico to be with his wife and children. We fully support Carlos’ decision and wish him the best in the future.”

Multiple reports have stated that Salcedo is on the verge of signing with Liga MX side FC Juárez.

TFC will now have an additional Designated Player available amid a summer of intense turnover.
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Insigne, Bernardeschi, Pozuelo, Salcedo, Criscito: It’s all happening at Toronto FC

Analysis as struggling Toronto FC adds Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi while looking to move Alejandro Pozuelo and Carlos Salcedo.

MLS is not immune to its silly season moments, and with the league’s transfer window opening on Thursday, it appears that Toronto FC is trying to be involved in every trade and transfer rumor out there.

Not long after Italy attacker Lorenzo Insigne arrived in town ahead of a likely debut for TFC Saturday, July 9 against the San Jose Earthquakes, Pro Soccer Wire broke news that TFC is looking to trade Mexico center back Carlos Salcedo.

On Tuesday, the news got even more frantic. First, multiple reports said Inter Miami was about acquire Alejandro Pozuelo in a trade with Toronto. Then, MLSsoccer.com reported that the Pozuelo trade, if completed, would open the door for Toronto to sign a second Italian international, with Federico Bernardeschi apparently their target.

Let’s try to come to grips with why all of these deals are happening at once.

TFC is bad right now

The Reds have been an ambitious club for years, but 2021 was a disaster for the club, and 2022 hasn’t been much better. Despite making a splash in signing Bob Bradley to take over after Greg Vanney’s departure, an inexperienced TFC side is in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 18 points. Only the Chicago Fire (0.94) and Sporting Kansas City (0.84) have a worse points-per-game rate than TFC’s 1.00.

The underlying data says that this is actually fortunate for TFC. According to data from FBref, Toronto’s -16.6 expected goals difference is—by a whopping 5.5 goals!—the worst in MLS. Even with Bradley installing a progressive style of play and astute additions like underrated forward Jesús Jiménez, it’s been a debacle of a season.

And that’s the thing about ambitious clubs that also have deep pockets like TFC does: right or wrong, they don’t just accept a debacle of a season.

Salcedo on the outs

We should start with the look to ship Salcedo out. He, like Jiménez, was added this winter, and the idea was that an active Mexican national team defender with MLS experience should be a big boost to a defense that needed it.

Instead, Salcedo has struggled mightily at the heart of the TFC defense. American Soccer Analysis’s Goals Added metric, a rough guide to a player’s total contributions, rates Salcedo as the third-worst center back in MLS this season. It simply hasn’t been a good fit, whether that’s on Salcedo, Bradley, compatibility with teammates, or all of the above.

To be fair to Salcedo, though, this extends throughout the squad. The only TFC defender with a positive Goals Added rating is Jakheele Marshall-Rutty, who is both more of a winger than a defender, and who has largely been coming off the bench while Toronto chases games, allowing his attacking tendencies to be the emphasis.

Still, when you’re letting up over two expected goals per game (TFC is by some distance the worst in MLS in xGA), someone’s gotta go, and Salcedo occupies a Designated Player slot to boot. It’s not a shock that a team wanting to make major changes is looking his way first.

Insigne In

TFC’s biggest offseason move was also MLS’s biggest offseason move: a stunning move to sign a current Italian international who was filling the nets in Serie A. Insigne’s last two campaigns for Napoli saw him produce 30 goals and 16 assists in the league, and Insigne was first-choice as they qualified for the Champions League this season.

MLS teams just don’t often sign a player in that stratosphere before they turn 33 or 34, and while Insigne is close (he’s 31), it’s still a remarkable turn of events. Insigne’s contract begins when the transfer window opens, and it’ll make him the league’s highest-paid player.

There’s little reason to doubt that he’ll be a great help to TFC, no matter if he lines up on the left wing or as a center forward. Jiménez has scored eight goals, but after him the attack has been tepid or worse. Jonathan Osorio and Pozuelo, who we’ll address in a moment, have four goals apiece, and then it really dries up from there.

On a per-game basis, TFC has the second-worst xG in MLS, and it’s largely because Jiménez is their lone goal threat. Insigne’s not going to fix the defense, but at the very least he gives Toronto a chance to win some shootouts.

Adios, Pozuelo + Ciao, Bernarseschi?

TFC is, as we discussed, apparently about to trade Pozuelo to Miami in order to open up room for another Serie A vet, Federico Bernardeschi. The 28-year-old winger is a free agent, but he’s also a prime-years attacking player who just spent five seasons regularly contributing for Juventus…so yeah, they need a DP spot.

The other aspect here is that Bradley has largely played Pozuelo, a natural No. 10, out on the right. That’s not new for Pozuelo, who was nominally a right forward under Vanney somewhat frequently, but it’s asking him to play a bit out of position for the good of the team. That’s not a great situation for a DP; you generally want those players in exactly their right position and role.

There’s also a question of fitness with Pozuelo, who was only available for about half of TFC’s games last year, and never seemed close to 100% in a miserable one goal/four assist campaign. He’s only missed two games in 2022, and his four goals/five assists are pretty good given the nightmare taking place around him, but consider this: on top of the whole “regular for Juventus” aspect, TFC would be getting younger by swapping Pozuelo out and replacing him with Bernardeschi.

While it’s probably not a good idea to trade Pozuelo within the East, where he will immediately solve some serious problems for a Miami side that is like TFC below the red line, it’s something of a “beggars can’t be choosers” moment. If a player with Bernardeschi’s profile wants to come to your MLS club and give a serious effort, you find a way to make it happen.

What should we expect?

Bottom line, these are good moves, but they’re not going to solve everything for TFC. Adding Insigne and Bernardeschi will allow Bradley to move back into a 4-3-3 formation, which seems to be his preference, and Jiménez has proven to be a good enough finisher feeding on scraps that his strike rate should grow once both Italians are up and running.

Still, trading Salcedo alone doesn’t cure a defense in which every player seems to be underperforming, and Bradley has stuck to his guns in terms of playing an open brand of possession soccer. TFC will take risks going forward, and a defense that has been a catastrophe will have to succeed while exposed.

One way this might help out is just a simple fear factor. Right now, everyone that plays Toronto attacks them, because why wouldn’t you? They can’t stop anyone right now, so teams are confident they’ll get the goals they need to win. That willingness to be open against Toronto will probably shift once the Serie A-caliber upgrades are there to worry about.

In fact, their hopes may hinge on a move that isn’t getting as much attention: Domenico Criscito, yet another Serie A vet, was signed this past Wednesday, and is already training with the team. While it’s not necessarily great policy to sign 35 year olds in MLS, TFC could suddenly improve quite a bit if Criscito—who, it must be noted, played in 20 games for Genoa in 2021-22—can give them a few good months.

It’s reasonable to expect that Insigne and Bernardeschi will improve a moribund attack. If Criscito can help guide the defense out of their current, awful form, there’s a slim chance we see another late-season charge up the table that is baked into seemingly every MLS season.

Source: Toronto FC is shopping Carlos Salcedo

Mexican international Carlos Salcedo could be on the move.

Just months after acquiring Carlos Salcedo, Toronto FC may be looking to ship the Mexican international out.

The 28-year-old center back, who has appeared 48 times for Mexico, is being shopped around MLS and Liga MX, a source close to the situation tells Pro Soccer Wire. Toronto did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.

Acquired by Toronto FC in late January from Tigres, he has featured in 13 matches for the MLS club, playing 1,156 minutes. He also has twice appeared in the Canadian Championship this season.

He last appeared for El Tri in the Nations League Final, a 1-0 loss to the United States in extra time. Salcedo came in as a second-half substitute, going 61 minutes in the loss.

As a youth, Salcedo came up with the Real Salt Lake Academy, making his MLS debut in 2013 before transferring to Mexican powerhouse Chivas. He spent four seasons in Liga MX before making a move to the Bundesliga and Eintracht Frankfurt. He moved back to Liga MX with Tigres in 2019.

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Carlos Salcedo debutó en la MLS y regresa como jugador franquicia

Salcedo tendrá una revancha en la MLS, con más experiencia, un recorrido largo y exitoso. Refuerza una plantilla que ya luce peligrosa

Vaya vueltas que da la vida, hace 10 años, los Tigres de la UANL dejaron ir a un joven de 17 años de la sub-20 llamado Carlos Salcedo a probar suerte en el futbol de la MLS y esta vez la historia se repite, solo que va al Toronto FC y como jugador franquicia.

Foto vía @TorontoFC

Tras pasar un periodo en las fuerzas básicas del Real Salt Lake y cumplir con los requisitos de la liga para considerarse un jugador formado en el club, Salcedo debutó en primera división en Estados Unidos en 2013.

Ya pasaron nueve años desde el debut del defensor mexicano, Salcedo se fue de la MLS siendo aún muy joven y de las Chivas dio el salto al futbol europeo donde hizo tres campañas, una con la Fiorentina en la Serie A y otra con el Eintracht Frankfurt de la Bundesliga.

Foto vía @TorontoFC

Dinámico, aguerrido y con mucha ubicación en el campo, el Titán regresa a la MLS con la etiqueta de jugador franquicia, algo que no le pesa al jugador como lo expresó en su primera conferencia de prensa, ha trabajado por ello, se lo ganó y no lo presiona, lo motiva a dar lo que se espera de él.

Salcedo tendrá una revancha en la MLS, con más experiencia, un recorrido largo y exitoso. Llega a reforzar a una plantilla que ya luce peligrosa con la incorporación a mitad de año de Lorenzo Insigne y figuras actuales como Jozie Altidore y Michael Bradley.

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¿Habrá novedades en la lista del Tri? Te adelantamos algunas

El Tata Martino tendrá que cortar algunas cabezas para el regreso de algunos futbolistas que ya fueron “perdonados” por el cuerpo técnico

Como nunca antes la lista de El Tri para los siguientes compromisos de eliminatoria ha generado tanta expectativa y es que México no tuvo buenas presentaciones en 2021 y se espera que este año sea diferente.

El Tata Martino tendrá que cortar algunas cabezas para el regreso de algunos futbolistas que ya fueron “perdonados” por el cuerpo técnico tricolor por sus indisciplinas o simplemente regresan de lesiones.

El primero en la lista es Diego Lainez, el mediocampista del Betis tendrá su oportunidad de nueva cuenta en la selección mayor tras recuperarse de la lesión que sufrió en el duelo por la medalla de bronce en Tokio 2020.

© Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Otro de los regresos es el de Gerardo Arteaga, el lateral del Genk de la primera división de Bélgica tendría de nueva cuenta un llamado a la selección mexicana, pues el cuerpo técnico ya pasó por alto su negativa de ir a Juegos Olímpicos por un problema de ansiedad, propio de la pandemia.

Dado que la defensa es uno de los sectores más criticados en la selección mexicana, el Tata Martino también ha perdonado a Carlos Salcedo. El Titán había sido borrado del Tri por problemas de actitud que no gustaron al cuerpo técnico. Pero el Tata lo perdonó, Carlos habló con él y el tema quedó aclarado pues Salcedo busca jugar otra Copa del Mundo y la verdad que al Tri le hace falta si liderazgo.

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¡Un Titán en la MLS! Salcedo se acerca al Toronto FC

Al parecer las opciones en el equipo de Miguel Herrera serán escasas para el Titán, por lo que Tigres aceptaría negociar a Salcedo

Lejos de los rumores que ponían a Carlos Salcedo en el futbol brasileño, la MLS parece ser una opción real para el defensor de Tigres que ya estaría en negociaciones con el Toronto FC para su llegada.

Los canadienses quieren sumar al experimentado defensa para esta campaña, luego de que finaliza contrato con Tigres en diciembre del 2022 y no han renovado.

Al parecer las opciones en el equipo de Miguel Herrera serán escasas para el Titán, por lo que Tigres aceptaría como parte del pago algún jugador que el equipo de la MLS quiere entregar.

Y es que el técnico Bob Bradley quiere conformar un equipo capaz de pelear la Liga y la Concachampions para asistir al Mundial de Clubes y confía en que Carlos Salcedo pueda sumar su experiencia para alcanzar el objetivo.

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Dos Tigres cerca de regresar al futbol de Europa

Diego Reyes y Carlos Salcedo están cerca de emigrar de los Tigres de la UANL para regresar al futbol europeo.

Diego Reyes y Carlos Salcedo están cerca de emigrar de los Tigres de la UANL para regresar al futbol europeo.

El Titán Salcedo ya habría sido contactado por la directiva del Galatasaray de Turquía para reforzar a la plantilla en este mercado invernal.

A pesar de tener contrato con los felinos, el técnico del equipo de Estambul está muy interesado en Salcedo quien ya cuenta con experiencia en el futbol del Viejo Continente en Italia y Alemania.

Diego Reyes por su parte habría sido contactado por el técnico del Getafe Quique Sánchez para reforzar el cuadro bajo de los azulones luego de la eliminación de la Copa del Rey y la mala posición en la que marchan en el campeonato local.

El técnico Sánches y el defensor mexicano coincidieron en el Espanyol de Barcelona por lo que es un hombre de la confianza del estratega español que sueña con Diego Reyes aunque nadie se ha puesto en contacto con la directiva felina.

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Carlos Salcedo cerca del Olympique de Marsella

El defensor mexicano de los Tigres, Carlos Salcedo se encuentra muy cerca del Olympique de Marsella de la primera división de Francia, según reportó el diario francés Foot01. No es la primera vez que el club de Marsella pretende al futbolista …

El defensor mexicano de los Tigres, Carlos Salcedo se encuentra muy cerca del Olympique de Marsella de la primera división de Francia, según reportó el diario francés Foot01.

No es la primera vez que el club de Marsella pretende al futbolista mexicano con paso por la Fiorentina de Italia y el Eintracht Frankfurt de la Bundesliga. Desde torneos anteriores habían tentado la posibilidad de contratar al defensor y es que según el propio informe, el Olympique necesita un defensa y Carlos cumple con las características deseadas.

La pandemia del coronavirus obligaría a Tigres a bajar el precio de Salcedo, por lo que incluso el préstamo con opción a compra podría resultar un buen negocio para los felinos del norte.

Aparentemente las negociaciones van en buen camino y el propio asistente del entrenador, Ricardo Carvalho habría tenido una charla con el mexicano para escuchar de viva voz sus intenciones de emigrar al futbol francés.

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