CF Montreal ended the Kei Kamara saga by sending the disgruntled forward to the Chicago Fire on Friday. In return, the Montreal XI could receive up to US$400,000 in general allocation money.
CF Montreal will receive a general allocation amount of $250,000, being $125,000 in 2023 and $125,000 in 2024, in addition to a conditional amount of up to $150,000, depending on Kamara’s performance.
The towel was burning between the forward and the Montreal team. Kamara wanted to be closer to his family, but the club exercised his option clause in view of the next season.
Sporting director Olivier Renard spoke about this situation at a press conference, and was sorry for the turn this case may have taken.
“I am neither satisfied nor surprised. It was something that happened naturally given the circumstances, he explained. The club’s idea was to continue with Kei, but circumstances made it better for everyone to find a solution. I start from the principle that there is no one who is bigger than the club, be it the players or the managers. »
Asked about the reaction of the locker room following the departure of this experienced player, Renard does not hide the sadness caused by this transfer, but does not evade the message that this decision conveys either.
“The group is losing a friend… He has always behaved well with the other players. The most important thing is that the group also sees what can be done in a club and what cannot be done. So I also hope that it will be something that we will take as an example of bad management, especially after the good last season. »
“Kei wanted more money, and we offered him more money, but we can’t increase the whole team because they were good the season before,” added Renard. Even less by five or six. There is a salary cap to be respected. »
Kamara was one of the players able to bring his experience to the Montreal locker room. Could his departure therefore lead to a certain deficit? Not for the sporting director, who is aware of the abilities of his executives.
“There is Rudy Camacho who is in his thirties, there is Victor Wanyama, Samuel Piette, Romell Quioto, all players who are close to 30 years old. Yes, we are losing a person who coached certain players, and that’s why we wanted to keep him, but we have enough experience in the group to coach the other young people who are growing. »
Despite all this imbroglio, Renard does not hold any grudges in this affair and wishes to close this chapter in order to concentrate on the season which begins soon.
“It is important for me to close this book. I wish him a good season in Chicago, I have no problem with that. It’s just that here, in Montreal, we had to find a solution. »
CF Montreal begins its MLS season this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against Inter Miami.