NEW SIGNINGS Bulls ink Argentine defender Pietravallo, Rojas; they will meet media Wednesday
Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio has gotten two of the players he sought. Will he aim for a third or fourth in the near future? Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
After months of trying, Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio will get at least two of his men, with the promise of perhaps some more in the not too distant future.
The Red Bulls Wednesday will announce the signing of two new players -- Argentine defender Juan Pietravallo and Venezuelan international midfielder Jorge Rojas.
They will be introduced to the media prior to the team's practice at Montclair State University Wednesday morning, a club spokesman said.
Pietravallo, 27, who most recently performed for Veria F.C. in Greece, also has played for Velez Sarsfield, Olimpo de Bahia Blanca, Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata, Atletico de Rafaela, Quilmes, Nueva Chicago and Club Atletico Belgrano in his native Argentina and with CD Leganes (Spain).
The 5-9, 154-lb. Pietravallo has played more than 150 games in the Argentine First Division.
The Red Bulls listed the Pietravallo as a defender, but he also has played as a defensive midfielder.
Rojas, a 31-year-old left-sided midfielder, announced over the weekend that he had agreed to terms with the Red Bulls after he played in a charity match with Brazilian great Ronaldhino and Lionel Messi from Argentina.
Nicknamed "Zurdo," Rojas and Pietravallo will not be able to begin playing with the Red Bulls until the MLS summer transfer window opens July 15.
If all of their paperwork is completed by then, their MLS debut could come against the Los Angeles Galaxy and David Beckham Saturday, July 19.
And there might be more signings on the way. Venezuelan defender Gabriel Cichero was quoted by Venezuelan website www.LaVinotinto.com that he and the Red Bulls are deep into negotiations
