TFC looking to land often-hurt Argentine winger Pablo Piatti?

Steve Buffery
Feb 05, 2020  •  February 5, 2020  •  2 minute read
Pablo Piatti of Argentina reacts after missing a scoring opportunity late in the game against the Czech Republic in the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Ottawa,, June 30, 2007. (JEAN LEVAC/Postmedia files)

Beatlemania hit Toronto back in 1965. Could Pablomania be next?

Doubtful. Still, there does seem to be some Pablo-centric excitement building.

In September, the Art Gallery of Ontario announced that it would be presenting a major exhibition of the works of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso this summer.

And now, reports that Argentine winger/forward Pablo Piatti may be joining Toronto FC this season are heating up.

“Piatti is under contract with another club and as such I can’t comment on interest, etc,” TFC GM Ali Curtis told the Toronto Sun on Wednesday.

Is that pouring cold water on the Piatti reports? Actually, it’s probably the other way around. If Curtis had no interest in Piatti, he would probably say so.

However, if the Reds do happen to sign Piatti, they may be acquiring damaged goods and picking up a guy who doesn’t exactly fit the bill as to what kind of attacking player Curtis and president Bill Manning said they were looking for as a third DP this season. The two front-office gurus indicated at the end of the 2019 MLS season that they would pursue a goal-scorer to complement current attacking players Jozy Altidore and Alejandro Pozuelo.

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Piatti, who turns 31 in March, made three total appearances for Espanyol this season, scoring zero goals. He has scored four goals in all competitions in the last three seasons.

And he’s not exactly been a beacon of health over the past few years, suffering right knee ligament damage last February that prematurely ended his 2018-19 season with Espanyol. He was out for 226 days and missed 27 games. He has also suffered a fractured arm and skull fracture during his career and numerous hamstring injuries. Since the 2014-15 season, Piatti has been diagnosed with 15 injuries. He would, of course, have to pass a physical before another team took a chance on him. But still …

On the upside, Piatti is out of contract on June 30 and has reportedly been given permission from Espanyol to negotiate his departure from the club.

Piatti has played in Spain since 2008, with stops at Almeria, Valencia and Espanyol, scoring 48 goals and 42 assists in that span. Piatti’s professional career began with Estudiantes in 2006. He was part of the Argentina squad that won the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. The youngest player in the roster, he played in six of seven games. In June 2011, Piatti made his debut for the senior Argentina side.

Piatti certainly has a history of injuries. However, TFC has a crack medical department. Just ask Altidore.

SBuffery@postmedia.com

Twitter @Beezersun

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