Montreal Impact midfielder Alejandro Silva’s old club, Olimpia, is reportedly hot on the trail of its former player.
The Paraguayan side is said to be interested in paying the Impact a record fee for Silva, who arrived in Major League Soccer last March. Olimpia President Marcos Trovato directly inserted himself into the transfer speculation by asking the Paraguayan supporters to help foot the bill.
In a Dec. 28 tweet, Trovato wrote, “To all the Olimpistas in the world. Now more than ever [Olimpia needs] us. We are 8,048 members [today]. We need 15,000 so I assure you that on [March 1] we start with a great team [plus] #AS3. Can you help me???”
The #AS3 appears to refer to Silva’s initials and the No. 3 jersey he wore with Olimpia.
A todos los Olimpistas del Mundo. Ahora más que nunca @elClubOlimpia nos necesita. Somos 8.048 socios al día hoy. Necesitamos ser 15.000 Socios al día y les aseguro que el 3/01 arranca un Equipazo + #AS3 . Me Ayudan ???
— Marco Trovato (@MarcoTrovatoV) December 28, 2018
Silva, who recorded five goals and 11 assists in 31 appearances for Montreal last season, is 29 and started his career in 2010 with Fenix in his native Uruguay. He moved to Olimpia in 2012, where he remained until 2014.
From 2014 to 2018, he represented Lanus of Argentina but went on loan twice, first to Penarol and then back to Olimpia.
The Impact acquired Silva last spring using Targeted Allocation Money and have deployed the player along the right flank.
Rumors surrounding Silva’s potential return to Olimpia took another turn Saturday when Montreal-based analyst Vincent Destouches tweeted that both the Impact and El Decano were in the thick of negotiations and that a deal, if reached, would be the biggest in Montreal’s history.
Silva earned $800,040 in 2018, according to the MLS Players’ Association.
INFO: Le départ d’Alejandro Silva pour Olimpia est presque bouclé. #IMFC devrait réaliser le plus gros transfert de son histoire avec l’Uruguayen de 29 ans. Le club va aussi se donner un peu de latitude au niveau de la masse salariale, qui posait problème #ImpactTVASports
— Vincent Destouches (@100_Soccer) December 29, 2018