:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/734314/85041772.jpg)
According to Sports Station RDS and Patrick Leduc , the Montreal Impact have signed their first ever Designated Player for when they enter Major League Soccer, central defender Nelson Rivas. The Colombian international and ex-Inter Milan central defender should like a strong building block for the Impact's defence ahead of its entry into MLS.
Jesse Marsch did not waste time after his hiring before signing a big-name player after taking over at the helm of the MLS team. A press conference is expected later this afternoon at Saputo Stadium, during which Marsch is expected to talk about the new signing and the upcoming evaluation mini-camp.
Rivas, a 28-year-old defender, has extensive experience in Colombia, and has also played in Italy's Serie A and the Argentine Primera division. After falling out of favor at Inter due to form and injuries, he spent time on loan at Livorno and at Dnipro in Ukraine. Rivas was released by Inter Milan at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season and has been a free agent since.