Orlando City SC's talks with Serie A club AC Milan about a transfer of F Robinho "have hit a wall and appear to be dead," while the team also has "ruled out adding" MF Ronaldinho, according to a source cited by Paul Tenorio of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Ronaldinho is a free agent after ending his deal with Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro, and while he is a "megastar," he "may not be the right fit -- on or off the field -- for what Orlando City is building." Meanwhile, the club "had serious discussions regarding Robinho ... but it appears that transfer fee and salary demands halted the deal." Both players are former members of the Brazil national team. Orlando City, which is slated to join MLS in '15, has "publicly stated its desire to create a direct connection with Brazil," where club Owner Flavio Augusto da Silva is from, and has already signed Brazilian MF Kaka "as its first designated player" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/31).
MIXED MESSAGE: Fellow '15 MLS expansion team NYC FC last week signed EPL Club Chelsea MF Frank Lampard, but ESPN's Craig Burley following the move asked, "What does MLS want?" Burley: "It's brought in Frank Lampard at 36 (years old). Yes, he’s fit, he’s a great professional. But it’s also made designated players get paid big bucks." Burley added, "Is he going to put (people) in seats more than Ronaldinho? Is he going to create an interest in America? … If Ronaldinho signs for an MLS club, it makes waves around the rest of the world. It makes newspapers” (“ESPN FC,” ESPN2, 7/29).
