REAL SALT LAKE
EXTENDS LOAN DEAL FOR FORWARD PAULO JR.
Deal Keeps Exciting Brazilian Attacker in RSL Uniform
for 2011, with Option to Extend Contract through 2014
SANDY,
Utah (Monday, December 27, 2010) -- Real Salt Lake General Manager Garth
Lagerwey
announced today that the club has extended the loan deal for forward Paulo
Jr. from Miami FC of the USSF D-2 Pro League through the end of the 2011
season. As part of the deal, Real Salt Lake will also have the option to
purchase the rights for the exciting Brazilian attacker through 2014 at the end
of the year-long loan extension. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal
will not be disclosed.
The
21-year-old Paulo Jr. – whose full name is Paulo Morais de Araujo Junior – will
continue to occupy the fifth of Real Salt Lake’s six International Player
roster slots available to the club for the 2011 season, joining Argentineans
Fabian Espíndola, Nelson Gonzalez, and Javier Morales and Costa Rican Álvaro
Saborío on the current list.
“We
are happy to have been able to work with Alejandro Taraciuk andTraffic Sports USA to
extend the loan for this talented young player,” said Lagerwey. “We expect
that, after a full preseason with the team, Paulo will be able to grow and
develop, and we hope he is able to take a big step forward in helping RSL as we
try to win the CONCACAF Champions League and MLS Cup in 2011.”
Noticing
his four assists and team-high eight goals in 22 appearances for Miami FC
through the majority of its 2010 campaign, Real Salt Lake acquired Paulo Jr. on
Sept. 9 via a loan deal for the 2010 stretch run. The short-term move paid off
well for the Utah side, as the exciting young attacker managed to score three
times in two appearances in CONCACAF Champions League play, with two of those
tallies sparking RSL to a 3-1 win over Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul on Oct. 19
that clinched the top spot in Group A for the MLS side. Despite not completing
the USSF D-2 Pro League campaign with Miami, the Brazilian impressed enough
through the first five months of the season to earn a spot on the league’s Best
XI Team.
Before
coming to the United States, Paulo Jr. began his budding career in the youth
systems of Brazilian clubs Flamengo do Piaui and Ituano. He debuted
professionally with Ituano in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie C (third
division) before signing with Miami FC in early 2009.
Today’s
transaction continues a fruitful offseason for the Real Salt Lake front office,
which has reinforced its dangerous attacking corps through the re-signings of
Paulo Jr. and Saborío – the 2010 MLS Newcomer of the Year – and a trade with
the Portland Timbers that brought veteran MLS attacker and El Salvadoran
international Arturo Alvarez to the Wasatch Front. Securing the services of
these players early in the offseason will prove vital for the continuity of
Real Salt Lake, which will begin its preseason in less than a month’s time and
return to the field of competition on February 22 in the first leg of a
CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Round series against its fellow MLS
survivor to this point, the Columbus Crew. The return leg is set for Tuesday,
March 1, at Rio Tinto Stadium, with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. MT.
TRANSACTION:
Real Salt Lake extends loan deal for forward Paulo Jr. with USSF D-2 Pro
League’s Miami FC through the 2011 season.
#23
Paulo Jr.
Position: Forward
Height: 5’
7’’
Weight: 158 lbs.
Born: January 23, 1989 in
Teresina, Brazil
Hometown: Teresina, Brazil
Citizenship: Brazil
College: N/A
MLS
Experience:
One Season (2010-current)
Last
Club:
Miami FC (USSF D-2 Pro League) (2009-10)
Professional Career
2010: Real Salt Lake (Major League Soccer): Appeared in six games
across all competitions after joining the club on loan on Sept. 9, appearing in
3 MLS contests off the bench (0G/0A in 95 min.), scoring 3 goals in just 65
minutes across 2 games in CONCACAF Champions League play, and making his MLS Cup
Playoff debut via a substitute appearance … Made an immediate impact in his RSL
debut on Sept. 15 v. Toronto FC, entering the CCL contest in the 74th
minute and opening his scoring account just 6 minutes later, capping the
scoring in RSL’s vital 4-1 victory … Made his MLS debut three days later on
Sept. 18 v. Chicago, logging another 16 minutes in RSL’s 1-0 win that broke the
record for the longest MLS home undefeated streak at 23 games … After missing a
handful of games due to left hamstring strain, returned to the field on Oct. 9
@ New York via a 22-minute stint of the bench in a scoreless draw at Red Bull
Arena … Scored RSL’s first two goals on 10-19 v. Cruz Azul (43’, 67’) in the
CCL Group A finale for both sides, pacing the Utahans to a 3-1 win that allowed
RSL to become the first MLS team in 9 tries to win a Group Stage … Played final
29 minutes on Oct. 22 @ Colorado in the regular season finale, a 2-2 draw that
allowed RSL to maintain the Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry trophy for a fourth
consecutive season … Made his postseason debut on Nov. 6 v. FC Dallas, playing
the last 17 minutes off the bench in the 1-1 second leg draw that ended RSL’s
2010 campaign.
2010: Miami FC (USSF D-2 Pro League): Started 18 of his 22
matches with Miami FC in League play, registering a team-high 8 goals and
adding 4 assists across 1,675 minutes of action, numbers that led to him being
named to the USSF D-2 Pro League’s Best XI team for 2010 … At the time of his
departure, ranked in USSF D-2’s top five with 20 points (3rd), 8
goals (T-4th), and 50 shots (5th) … Also scored five
times in three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup contests, ranking at the top of the
competition’s scoring chart (alongside Seattle’s Nate Jaqua) … Four of those
goals came during a 10-minute span in added extra time in Miami FC’s First
Round 5-1 win over the Central Florida Kraze (PDL) on June 15 … Also tallied
the Blues’ opener (2’) a week later in the squad’s 2-1 (AET) victory over
fellow D-2 USSF side Tampa Bay … Started and went the full 90 minutes on June 29
at Houston Dynamo in a 0-1 Third Round defeat … Re-signed with Miami on March
15 for its 2010 season.
2009: Miami FC (USL First Division): Notched three goals
and three assists across 18 appearances in his first season with Miami … Made
his Blues debut on May 20 v. Charleston Battery, and scored his first USL goal
a month later on June 20 vs. Cleveland City Stars
2008:
Ituano FC (Campeonato Brasileiro Série C): Began his professional career in 2008
with Ituano FC of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C before signing with Miami
FC in 2009.
Personal
Born
Paulo Morais de Araujo (ah-RAH-ho) Junior in Teresina, Brazil
www.RealSaltLake.com / www.RioTintoStadium.com / www.ESPN700Sports.com
