(Montreal) CF Montreal announced on Tuesday that it had exercised options on the contracts of 12 players, including those of midfielder Mathieu Choinière and defender Joel Waterman.
In a statement, the Montreal team also confirmed that it had done the same with goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, defenders Zachary Brault-Guillard, Keesean Ferdinand, Karifa Yao, as well as midfielders Jean Aniel-Assi, Ahmed Hamdi, Sean Rea, Nathan Saliba, Joaquín Torres, and Rida Zouhir.
Goalkeeper James Pantemis, defenders Zorhan Bassong, Kamal Miller, and Robert Thorkelsson, midfielders Ismaël Koné, Djordje Mihailovic, Matko Miljevic, Samuel Piette and Victor Wanyama, as well as forwards Bjorn Johnsen, Romell Quioto, Sunusi Ibrahim and Mason Toye are already under contract for the 2022 season.
In addition, the team will not exercise the option of the contracts of goalkeeper Sebastian Breza (purchase option), defenders Mustafa Kizza, Aljaz “Kiki” Struna, midfielders Jean-Yves Ballou Tabla, Clément Bayiha, Tomas Giraldo and Emanuel Maciel.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, PRESS ARCHIVES
Ballou Tabla
However, it is not impossible that Breza will be back with CF Montreal, if the team manages to come to an agreement with FC Bologna. Breza joined CF Montreal on April 6 on loan.
Defender Rudy Camacho’s contract expires in 2021. Elected defensive player of the year at CF Montreal this year, Camacho rejected an offer from the team a few months ago, sporting director Olivier Renard revealed during his year-end review last week.
In the coming days, the Montreal team will take stock of an upcoming agreement with midfielder Lassi Lappalainen.
During his assessment, Renard announced that the team should also confirm, shortly, the addition of Italian central defender Gabriele Corbo, who played with FC Bologna in 2021.
CF Montreal will return to competition between February 15 and 17 to play the first leg of the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions League, following its conquest of the Canadian Championship on November 21 against Toronto FC.
The return leg will be played between February 22 and 24. The Montrealers will then begin their regular season in MLS on February 27 in Orlando.