Lider Marmol has once again changed training gear, heading back from New York to Chicago to work out with the Chicago Fire.
Frank Klopas, the technical director of the Fire, announced Friday that Marmol was on his way to work out with the Fire, the team that owns his rights as a discovery player after he worked out with the Fire last season.
At the time Marmol joined the Fire last season, the coach was Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio, who worked hard to get Marmol signed to a contract. But Major League Soccer could not come to terms with the 23-year-old defender in 2007.
Soon thereafter, Osorio left the club in a controversial move, moving from the Fire to coach the New York Red Bulls. This spring, Marmol had been training with the Red Bulls, who reportedly attempted to engineer a trade between the Red Bulls and the Fire for Marmol's rights. After having lost a coach in a bizarre manner, the Fire did not bargain to release Marmol from his discovery status, and instead worked to convince Marmol to come back and train with them.
On Friday, Klopas announced that Marmol had been so convinced, and he would train with the Fire on Saturday. The Fire's next game is Sunday against Kansas City at Toyota Park.
The Fire have confirmed that Marmol is not yet under contract. Marmol's contract demands reportedly clashed with salary cap availability for both the Red Bulls and the Fire.
"He is a young guy, and you look to the future this is a guy you can build a team around," Klopas said. "He's a big defender, he's good with his feet, he's good in the air. He can play in the middle, and he is a great guy."
Marmol is listed as 6-foot-3, and could join with the Fire's own defending giant, 6-4 Bakary Soumare, to create a huge backline, if coach Denis Hamlett sees fit to use them together.
Marmol last played professionally for Hercules CF in Spain. Before that he played his way up the ranks of the Paraguayan professional leagues.
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