The Chicago Fire have finally confirmed that Sebastian Grazzini has been loaned to Atletico de Rafaela on Aug. 17. The team's official announcement has been made a week after reports began about Grazzini joining the club. Although the long delay is strange, it brings closure to fans and ends doubts about the midfielder's future with the Fire.
Sebastian Grazzini is Loaned to Atletico de Rafaela
Chicago's announcement about loaning Sebastian Grazzini to Atletico de Rafaela has been released one week after papers in Argentina began reporting the deal. MLSSoccer.com also confirmed the transfer a week before the team, so the move did not surprise many fans. El Litoral reported on Aug. 10 that Grazzini had a contract with Rafaela and was the latest addition to the club.
Why did the Chicago Fire delay the official announcement about the transfer? The team has not responded to requests on more information about the situation, and this mirrors the general secrecy surrounding Sebastian Grazzini's departure in July. The Fire initially claimed that the midfielder returned to Argentina because of family issues, but this excuse has been debated by fans.
Sebastian Grazzini's Future
The Chicago Fire have not released details of the loan with Atletico de Rafaela. Since the team picked up his option after he left for Argentina in July, there have been multiple rumors about his contract. The club does not plan on revealing any more information about the deal.
Although the team refuses to supply details, there have been new reports about the deal. His contract with Atletico de Rafaela is allegedly set for one year, and the Chicago Fire have maintained the rights. Rafaela is rumored to be interested in seeing how Sebastian Grazzini performs before considering an extension. In addition, Chicago probably did not pay a transfer fee in this case.
The official departure of Sebastian Grazzini creates a new space on the team's roster. Before the Aug. 17 announcement, he was still listed as an active player. The Chicago Fire have not mentioned any additions to the roster, and there has been an unusual shortage of rumors about new players.
More from this contributor:
MLS Plans to Search for Referees in the Premier League: Fan View
Why MLS Will Continue to Compete for Players with China: Fan View
MLS Expansion Possibilities in 2012: Fan View
Lana follows MLS, UEFA and FIFA. She has been a faithful fan of the Chicago Fire since 1998. Follow @Lana_Bandoim on Twitter.
