MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Acquires Costa Rican International Forward

March 12, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Friday, March 12, 2010) - Real Salt Lake made official today the acquisition of Costa Rican international forward Álvaro Saborío, who will join the defending MLS Cup champions on loan for its 2010 campaign from Swiss Super League (first division) squad FC Sion. Per club policy, financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Saborío has joined Real Salt Lake at its preseason training camp in Charleston, S.C., and will be eligible to suit up for the Claret-and-Cobalt's defense of their Carolina Challenge Cup title beginning tomorrow afternoon against D.C. United (3:00 p.m. MT kickoff). Saborío will officially join Real Salt Lake's roster and be eligible to compete in MLS contests pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and work visa.

"We are energized that our pursuit of a striker has reached a successful conclusion with the addition of Álvaro Saborío," said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. "We still have a few steps to complete in obtaining his player pass and securing a work permit, but if we are able to accomplish those steps we are cautiously optimistic Álvaro could be available to play early in the season."

Considered one of the CONCACAF region's top forwards, the 27-year-old Saborío joins Real Salt Lake with a wealth of club experience both in his native Costa Rica and in Europe. After cutting his teeth in the youth system of Mexican side Tigres, Saborío returned to Costa Rica and starred for powerhouse Club Deportivo Saprissa from 2001-06, averaging nearly two goals every three games (95 goals in 149 games) while helping "los Morados" to back-to-back CONCACAF Champions League finals appearances in 2004 and 2005, the latter in which Saprissa defeated Mexico's U.N.A.M. Pumas 3-2 on aggregate for the side's third regional title.

Saborío would make the jump to European football after signing with FC Sion, where he scored 36 goals in 87 appearances from 2006-09. Last fall, Saborío joined English Coca-Cola Championship (second division) squad Bristol City on loan for the beginning of its 2009/10 campaign, netting twice in 21 appearances before making the jump to the MLS ranks.

"I'm excited to join Real Salt Lake and look forward to a great season ahead," said Saborío. "I'm busy learning about the other players, the coaching staff and the way the club functions, and once I become comfortable in the team I expect good things to happen."

Saborío has been equally impressive for his country, representing Costa Rica on the senior level 55 times and scoring 22 goals. Saborío helped Costa Rica qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany, where he made a pair of appearances off the bench in group play. American fans will recognize Saborío from last year's CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier against the United States on June 3, when his left-footed blast just 79 seconds into the match spurred the "Ticos" on to a 3-1 victory at his old club stomping grounds of the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose.

The worldly Saborío, who will fill Real Salt Lake's fifth and final available international player roster slot, should have no problem communicating with his new teammates, as "Sabo" speaks five languages fluently - English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Mekatelyu - a Limonese Creole dialect spoken in Costa Rica.

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