This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • Real Salt Lake's all-time leading scorer returned Friday to the stadium he, for so many seasons, could send into a tizzy. Nearly a year since RSL dealt forward Alvaro Saborio to D.C. United last July, the 34-year-old Costa Rican came back to Utah with the No. 9 on his back.
The No. 15 he owned for so many years went to young center back Justen Glad, tasked with keeping Saborio off the scoresheet in Sandy.
After signing with RSL in 2010, Saborio scored 63 goals and had 13 assists in league play up until being traded to D.C. for midfielder Luis Silva in 2015. From 2010 to 2013, Saborio had at least 11 goals for four straight seasons.
But the move to deal the tempestuous goal-scorer was the first domino in restructuring the RSL front line. Already with young Ecuadorian forward Joao Plata in tow, RSL general manager Craig Waibel set out to make the striker corps deeper, younger, more versatile and potent after trading Saborio.
"It certainly can look that way, and I'd like to pretend to be that smart," Waibel joked.
A little over a month after trading Saborio, Waibel finalized a deal for former Boca Juniors wide forward Burrito Martinez as a Designated Player last August. This January, RSL brought back Yura Movsisyan on a one-year loan from Russian club Spartak Moscow as the club's third Designated Player.
The first-year trio of Movsisyan, Martinez and Plata have combined for 16 goals and eight assists in RSL's 8-5-3 start to 2016. On Friday, Movsisyan was named MLS Player of the Month for June.
"It takes a little bit of time," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "Replacing Sabo is not easy — not an easy task. Sometimes it takes one piece and another piece. You work on the wings first, and then you go and get Yura and it looks much, much more complete."
Midfielder Stephen's surgery successful
As expected, RSL will be without starter Sunday Stephen for most of the summer. The club announced Friday a successful surgery for the 27-year-old Nigerian midfielder who suffered multiple complex facial fractures in a collision with New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles in RSL's 2-1 win on June 22.
"Sunny" is out six-to-eight weeks following the surgery that fixed a fractured right orbital. Signed in January, Sunny's impact with the club was immediate. He started 12 matches and notched a goal and assist. In a club release, Dr. Andrew Cooper said Sunny will be evaluated in six weeks to determine when he can return to the field.
Waibel shoots down transfer rumors
The summer transfer window opens the Fourth of July, and RSL is already the subject of international rumors. In the last week, RSL was linked to Paraguayan forward Oscar Cardozo as well as Trinidad & Tobago defender Aubrey David. Waibel quickly shot down the rumors. Cardozo, a 33-year-old striker, has recently been playing professionally in Turkey.
"I will comfortably tell you I have been in contact with no one and contacted by no one about Cardozo," Waibel said.
David, the 25-year-old defender for Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa, is set to join FC Dallas on loan, according to Saprissa's website. Waibel said RSL was contacted by David's representatives, but that was the extent of the talks.
Twitter: @chriskamrani