In a move that was surprising only in its demonstration of Toronto FC’s apparent newfound management savvy, Brazilian striker, Gilberto has returned home in a loan out deal.
Gilberto Oliveira Souza Junior, a 25-year-old who came to Toronto FC just a year ago, with a known reputation for his touch around the net, was loaned to Vasco da Gama, a team in his home country of Brazil. He had actually been training with the club, who reportedly has the option to buy his rights at the end of the year.
Current MLS designated player rules only allow for a maximum of three per team. Toronto currently has Michael Bradley, along with new signings Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco. With a March 1st deadline looming, Toronto FC was faced with the decision of how to manage Gilberto and his contract. Some had speculated that he may be kept as a non designated player with recently acquired allocation money. The signings of Damien Perquis and Benoit Cheyrou seemed to remove that option from any realm of possibility.
Over the course of 2014, Gilberto had worked his way into favor with the Toronto FC community. After an injury ridden, slow start, he began to show steady improvement. His first nine games looked to be an adjustment period, as his fitness appeared to improve dramatically. He went from poorly timed, near misses on goal, to an end to end work horse who showed strong commitment. Gilberto was, to say the least, media friendly, and always appeared quite happy, if not jubilant at his station in Toronto.
On the field, he appeared to demonstrate a flair for elegant football, attempting several fantastic bicycle kicks and showing off a touch that on some nights, can be rare in MLS. His first goal came in dramatic fashion as he scored on a rocket of a free kick against the Red Bulls after wrestling the ball from the arms of a determined, and ultimately astonished, Jermain Defoe. While the goal truly showed some of Gilberto’s raw ability, it was perhaps more telling in terms of what might be interpreted regarding his relationship with Defoe. An obvious “difference of opinion” on the matter of who might take free kicks in certain situations was clear. From a fan perspective, it was had an absolute shock element, at least revealing the status of the relationship between the two. Arguably, things did not improve, given that towards season’s end, Gilberto did absolutely nothing to support Defoe when probed about his knowledge of Defoe’s commitment to the team.
From the first goal onward, Gilberto seemed determined to grind it out. He became increasingly intense in his work rate, scored in four consecutive games in August, and was in many opinions, a top forward in MLS during that time. His steady improvement left his supporters guaranteeing he would deliver and live up to all expectations in 2015. Like Defoe, one wonders how successful Gilberto have been had the service from the midfield been better. It looked as though he was very much on his own and at the very least, out of step, despite noticeable effort.
The reality is that Toronto FC will have yet again a new look, and Gilberto may not get the chance to truly show his stuff in a Toronto FC kit. A similar situation unfolded a year ago as well with Argentine midfielder Matias Laba. Laba was loaned out to Vancouver due to an abundance of designated players. Many were critical of the deal, given that Vancouver was able to buy a flourishing Laba at the end of the season. Laba had been well scouted and much effort had been brought into bringing him to Toronto. The fact that he developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, also did not sit well in Toronto, especially at a time when the defence was suffering.
Only time will tell how both Gilberto and Toronto FC will fare in the wake of this deal. In the short term, Toronto FC still has his rights. For Toronto FC fans, it may be some consolation that he was dealt outside the league and will not foreseeably return to burn the Reds as so many others have done. While some may lament as to what might have been, a successful season would make the days of Gilberto but a distant memory. As for Gilberto’s goals going forward, he has reportedly indicated that his return home is a step towards impressing his national coach, Dunga. For the fortunes of both TFC and Gilberto, only time will tell.
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Main Photo by Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images
