The Impact confirms the hiring of Samuel Piette

Photo: The canadian Press
For head coach Mauro Biello, the arrival of Samuel Piette comes to fill gaps in midfield.

The Impact confirmed on Thursday that circulates for several days in Montreal : the hiring of the midfield quebec Samuel Piette, after a permanent transfer from Spanish club CD Izarra.

The footballer 22-year-old has signed a pact of two and a half years with the montreal eleven, with an option year for the season 2020.

The signature of this contract by the canadian international has put an end to a crazy period of a few weeks.

“I have had months quite busy with the Gold Cup, but also the match (friendly against Curacao) here, in Montreal, said that the acquisition will be confirmed after the receipt of his international transfer certificate and medical exam. These games have been able to make sure that I show what I could do. It has been a good showcase for me, that I had not in Spain. I’m happy with the results of this tournament. “

The defensive midfielder, who has started all four games of the Canada Gold Cup, does not feel extra pressure to have signed with the club of his childhood, who was a native of Le Gardeur, on the outskirts north-east of Montreal.

“Not really. I arrived here a bit as a new player. I’m young and I’m from Europe : I brought me here without pressure, he said the training complex of the club. It is certain that, as a Québécois, I might be more attention from the media, but I never bothered. The Impact, it is the club with which I wanted to play when I was 10-11 years old. Today, it has become a reality and I am very happy with it. “

A need filled

For head coach Mauro Biello, the arrival of Piette comes to fill gaps in midfield.

“We needed his qualities, he stressed. It brings a certain experience of Europe. Maturity also, as we saw with his performances at the Gold Cup. As he grew up here, he also brings a sense of belonging to this team, but this city also. It is very important. “

The coach believes that Piette could even be available as early as Saturday for the game against the Orlando City SC.

“Yes, I think so. He’s going to practice [Thursday and Friday]. We knew that he was coming with us ; it was just a matter of finalizing things. We knew that at the level of his condition, it was not sufficient to maintain a certain level. 10 days ago, he played in the Gold Cup. His pace is there, his fitness is there. It was brought here to help us now. “

Piette has played a total of 46 matches in the third division in spain during the last two years, including 32 with the CD Izarra last season. He joined the Deportivo La Coru Ina in 2014, and has played on loan with Racing de Ferrol during the 2015-2016 season. It had previously evolved in Germany, in 2013 and 2014, with the club Fortuna Düsseldorf, playing two matches in Division 2 Bundesliga, and 31 games with the youth team of the club.

Piette has played his amateur soccer in Quebec with FC Boisbriand, before joining FC Metz in France from 2009 to 2012.

At the international level, Piette has collected two assists in 35 games with the canadian national team, including 21 starts. He made his international debut on 3 June 2012, at the age of 17 years. He has taken part in the last Gold Cup of CONCACAF, its third consecutive participation at this tournament.

He has also worn the colours of Canada, with the selections in the under 17, 20 and 23 years, and has played in the world Cup of under 17 years of age in 2011.

No additional reinforcements

The arrival of Piette is sort of the end of the shop’s technical director Adam Braz.

“The window is open for another week, but I don’t think we will host another international player, he said. It is certain that the window of transactions is also open until next Wednesday. We focus exclusively on the meeting of Saturday, but after this game, we will have still a few days to evaluate our workforce. “

Is it that some of his players might leave ?

“Not necessarily, but we will see after the match against Orlando in the MLS. I am sure that all the teams are going to make phone calls to see what is possible. “

Orlando City SC will visit the Impact on Saturday, at 19: 30.