The Montreal Impact confirmed on Tuesday afternoon it has come to terms with Argentine defensive midfielder Hernan Bernardello who's turning 27 on August 3. The club also said he is becoming the second Designated Player (the other being Marco Di Vaio) after signing a one year deal with a two-year option.
This announcement follows last week’s mid-season report and comes in the middle of the team’s second worst winless streak (one game away from a record six games). Bernardello arrived in Montreal on Tuesday to sign a new deal and take a physical exam.
Ironically, the player had to be hospitalized late Tuesday for severe flu symptoms. His official public introduction planned for Wednesday morning was postponed and it is unlikely he will be in uniform Saturday against Kansas City.
This is not totally surprising since Sporting Director Nick DeSantis told reporters last week Montreal was working on one or two players to help out in the playoff race and for the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. DeSantis also said the club held a few allocation dollars to spare with the tight space under the cap.
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Bernardello played one friendly with Argentina’s national team back in May 2009 against Panama, on a side loaded mostly with domestic players.
He has played his initial three professional seasons in Argentina with Newell’s Old Boys (18th/14th in 2006-07; 11th/8th in 2007-08, and 5th/15th in 2008-09). He then crossed the Atlantic on a $4 million transfer to Spanish Liga side Almeria in July 2009 and signed a six-year deal.
He played 100 games on three seasons with Almeria (13th in 2009-10 and 20th in 2010-11 leading to relegation). He also played Barcelona in the Copa del Rey in 2011 where his club was destroyed 8-0 on aggregate by Messi and Co in the semifinals.
Last year in July, he was loaned to Atletico Colon of Argentina’s Primera Division and his team placed 10th in the Apertura and 17th in the Closura.
His arrival is expected to push Canadian international Patrice Bernier back in a more offensive role like he did last year when he scored a team-high nine goals. This can only be good news for the Impact, currently in a slump up front with only one goal scored in its last three outings.