Toronto FC have confirmed the signing of former Internazionale Milano goalkeeper Julio Cesar on loan from Queens Park Rangers, according to the club’s official website, Torontofc.ca.
The Brazil international, 34, joined QPR from Internazionale in August 2012 and made 27 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops before losing his place in the first-team to Robert Green.
Green has started each of club’s 29 matches in the English Championship this term, making a total of 33 saves and keeping 14 clean sheets.
After losing his starting place at Loftus Road, Cesar was linked with a move to Arsenal but the sensational form of Poland shot-stopper Wojciech Szczęsny ultimately blocked the deal.
Now the 34-year-old will move to Canada to team-up with Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley under newly-appointed head coach and former QPR team-mate Ryan Nelsen.
“Adding a player of Julio Cesar’s experience and ability only strengthens our club both in the short and long term,” said Toronto General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko.
“We are committed to creating a culture of winning at TFC, and there are few people in the world of soccer with a proven track record of consistently getting results that Julio has. We are very excited to bring him to Toronto FC.”
Toronto are priced at 16/1 to win the MLS title next season.
In other news, QPR boss Harry Redknapp has admitted he took a ‘gamble’ in bringing Ravel Morrison to Loftus Road for the rest of the season.
The England youth international, 21, will join QPR on loan from West Ham United until the end of the season next week.
Morrison is available to play in any league fixture until the English Championship play-off final but Redknapp will surely hope to secure promotion without traveling to Wembley.
“You need people who can open the door, someone who can unlock a defence,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News. “I’ve always had someone in my team who can change a game.
“I’ve always enjoyed having someone like that, whether it was Paolo Di Canio or Paul Merson when I went to Portsmouth, someone who can do something special and turn a game for you.
“I just think Ravel is one of those lads who can do that for us. I’m not sitting here saying it’s not a gamble because he is a gamble.
“If he didn’t have a problem somewhere, he wouldn’t be coming to QPR. He would be still at United because he’s got that talent.
“It’s a chance you take sometimes in life; you have to take a gamble. Sometimes they come off, sometimes they don’t – but if you don’t buy a ticket, you are never going to win the lottery.”
QPR — priced at 8/11 to secure promotion to the English Premier League this season — will host Reading at Loftus Road on Sunday, 16 February 2014.
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