MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Friday that the team will embark on a training tour of Italy at the conclusion of the MLS regular season schedule, set for November 5-17, 2012.
The Impact will play a minimum of two friendlies against Serie A opponents (first division). The club will face off against Bologna FC on November 8 at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara and ACF Fiorentina on November 15 at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Tickets for both games will be available. The team will also take part in a weekly training schedule.
“ It will be an honour and a pleasure to see Marco once again ”
- Albano Guaraldi, Bologna FC president
“This trip will give us the opportunity to extend our season by three weeks and cut down on the down time prior to the opening of training camp for the 2013 season,” said Impact sporting director Nick De Santis. “We would like to thank the two clubs for giving us the opportunity to organize these games, despite the fact that they are in midseason of their championships. This trip will also help us forge a stronger relationship with two prestigious organizations and could open doors for players wishing to play in North America one day.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for us to go and play against top level teams,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch, “and experience what games are like at the highest level.”
Di Vaio to play against former team
This will mark the return of Impact Designated Player Marco Di Vaio to Bologna, where he scored 65 goals in 143 matches over four seasons with Bologna FC, from 2008 to 2012. The club, established in 1909, won the Italian championship seven times in addition to finishing the runner up on another seven occasions. This season, Bologna is in 12th place in Serie A with a 2-4-1 record.
"It will be an honour and a pleasure to see Marco once again and meet his new teammates,” said Bologna FC president Albano Guaraldi. “For everything Marco Di Vaio meant to Bologna, the city and its team, we are very pleased to be able to spend an afternoon celebrating with him.”
"It's with great pleasure for me and for the entire team, to welcome Marco back here,” said Bologna FC head coach Stefano Pioli. “On the technical side, we are interested in playing the Impact. North American soccer is definitely a reality on the rise. It might be a little different from how we understand it to be, but certainly it is very interesting.”
Return-leg against Fiorentina
Fiorentina, on the other hand, is currently in sixth place in Serie A with a 3-2-2 record. The club won the Italian title on two occasions, the Coppa Italia six times and the Super Cup once. On May 23, 2010, the Impact hosted the Viola in a friendly at Stade Saputo, ending in a 1-1 draw.
“ This is an incredible opportunity for us to go and play against top level teams ”
- Head coach Jesse Marsch
“We have known the Saputo family well for a few years now," said the CEO of ACF Fiorentina Sandro Mencucci. "Our relationship with the owners of the Montreal Impact is one that has blossomed over time. This friendship that has been built could possibly blossom even further into one of a technical and professional nature in the future.”
"I have been following this new and interesting reality of world football closely now," said Viola head coach Vincenzo Montella. "Major League Soccer is definitely interesting and the fact that several European players have decided to relocate there can only help it grow. The game with the Montreal Impact could be a good occasion for players to showcase their skills.”
Impact U21 players invited
A few of the players from the U21 Academy team will be invited to take part in the tour. The U21s are set to play their Canadian Soccer League semi-final match against the York Region Shooters, this Sunday, at 2pm in Montreal.
Schedule
November 6: Arrival in Bologna, Italy
November 8: Match vs. Bologna FC
Departure for Florence, Italy
November 15: Match vs. Fiorentina
November 17: Return to Montréal
