MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Tuesday that 26-year-old Argentinean central midfielder Hernán Bernardello has become their second Designated Player signing, alongside forward Marco Di Vaio.
Bernardello also fills the club's 11th and last remaining foreigner spot, with Argentinean midfielder Maxi Rodríguez now on the long-term injury list.
“He fits in well with the identity of the club and we believe he will play an important role for us moving forward,” Impact sporting director Nick De Santis said in a club statement. “Hernán has consistently played between 25 and 30 games a season over his career.
"He is a player with great quality in midfield that covers a lot of ground, all while displaying great technical skills and great ability to relaunch attacks. He plays the game with a lot of passion and emotions.”
Bernardello made his professional debut with Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys but moved to Spain after three seasons. He played 5,875 La Liga minutes and 2,300 in the Segunda División with Andalusian club Almería. He came closest to silverware during Almería’s run to the semifinals of 2010-11 Copa del Rey, where they were routed 8-0 on aggregate by FC Barcelona.
Bernardello missed out on Almería’s promotion season in 2012-13 as he was loaned back home to Club Atlético Colón.
“He’s a very interesting player whose age is attractive going forward,” head coach Marco Schällibaum told reporters on Tuesday morning.
De Santis first told the media two weeks ago that Montreal would be looking for key players ahead of CONCACAF Champions League and potential MLS playoffs fixtures.
“I don’t know him that much, but the staff thinks he’ll bring something to the team,” midfielder Patrice Bernier said. “Most of all, he’s going to bring us depth ahead of the many games we’re set to play, especially in August.”
