Former league MVP is back with United
Three years after taking MLS by storm — scoring 20 goals and being named league’s most valuable player — circumstances are quite different for Luciano Emilio.
When the Brazilian forward makes his 2010 debut with D.C. United, he’ll be fighting for his professional life with only a modestly valued three-month contract to his name, representing a club that during the offseason decided it no longer wanted him.
It’s a far cry from the $750,000 that United pushed his way in 2008 to keep him after his stellar 2007 season.
But it turns out D.C. needs Emilio, and Emilio needs D.C., and apparently, there are no hard feelings.
“I think when we are professionals, we can understand everything,” said Emilio after his first training session back in D.C. on Thursday. “We can speak about the situation and resolve it as best as we can. I think now everything is OK.”
Headed into a showdown with Eastern Division-leading New York (4-1-0), last-place United (0-4-0) could desperately use Emilio’s scoring punch, having managed just two goals so far in league play.
But after a winter stint with Rio Branco in Brazil, Emilio hasn’t played since March 3, meaning he’ll need to shake off nearly the equivalent of an offseason’s worth of rust immediately to prove he deserves to be in the lineup. His short contract also makes it clear that United has left itself the option to dump him again in favor of any potential overseas signings this summer.
“I didn’t do preseason,” said Emilio. “I have a short time. The situation is not good. But for me it’s important to keep working because if you play good, you have other opportunities, to play here or somewhere else, so the important thing is to stay active.”
Having been reclassified as a journeyman is awkward for Emilio, but with his old number, his old locker and familiar teammates, little else has changed.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of fans that are up in arms about this move,” said United midfielder Santino Quaranta. “But they couldn’t come to terms on an agreement or whatever during the offseason, and Luci’s a great guy. He fits right in back here with the guys, and it’s like he never left.”
