Reports: Rafa Marquez To Sign With New York Red Bulls

By: Dave Martinez | July 23rd, 2010

rafamar Mexican legend and Barcelona main stay Rafael Marquez will be joining Red Bull on a four year deal, making roughly $2 million per year according to Goal.com. Barcelona would be allowing Marquez to go off on a free loan, as they continue to purge their payroll in search of cost savings.

Marquez will complete the trifecta of designated players allotted to the MLS franchise, immediately resolving the central defensive midfield questions that have been negatively impacting the teams possession over the past several weeks. As a recent convert to the position, Marquez showed a great proficiency in the lead up to the World Cup and beyond, reigning in the Mexican youngsters and helping mold them into a more cohesive unit. His leadership and presence on the squad has earned him the captains armband, and with good reason.

Conversely, Marquez involvement with “El Tri” and his rough style of play, including two egregious red cards against the United States Mens National Team over the course of his career, has cast a cloud over the hardcore supporters of the team. Marquez has long been the opposing face of this CONCACAF rivalry, and the thought of local fans having to embrace him as one of their own seems almost alien to some. Still, many others, from DC United’s Dema Kovalenko to Mexico’s own Cuauhtemhoc Blanco, have been able to change doubters into believers. Marquez will likely follow the same path.

And like any CDM worth his grain in salt, his timing could not have been more perfect. The Red Bulls midfield has been suffering greatly as this season has worn on. Carl Robinson, who was to be the great solution in the New York defensive midfield spot, has spent most of his time injured or unfit. Seth Stammler has been unable to adequately play the position, leaving much to be desired on the distribution aspect of the game. Other options, like a Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Tony Tchani, started the season off strongly, but have struggled to secure the middle of the pitch as of late. Their inability to offer consistency in the middle has lead to a lack play on the wing side, with no one capable of making a connecting, threatening pass. With the wings nullified, they would need to at least be able to march the middle of the pitch, but they are lost there as well with no one on the team being able to distribute as an attacking mid.

Marquez can be a key component in changing this. Coach Hans Backe has indicated that he may want to look at a diamond formation for the comfort of his new DP, which would ideally run all the play from the back through Rafa. This may open the door to a left sided return for Joel Lindpere, whom is most dangerous from that spot (if you need an example of this, simply witness Henry’s goal in the previous post). That move alone would immediately resolve two of the midfields four current question marks. If the Bulls could find logical pieces to complete a connection to their Henry/Angel duo, they could quickly become the most threatening offense in the league, bar none.

Is this the direction you want to see the team going? Will Marquez make a large enough impact on the pitch? Will Red Bull Arena become a hot bed of soccer? Shall we call the team the “Barca Bulls” now? Share your thoughts on these developments after the jump.