Sebastian Blanco per several sources will continue playing for the Portland Timbers after coming so close with an undisclosed team failing to sign him as a free agent. As a matter of face, the Timbers and Blanco have reached a whopping two-year agreement.
Blanco, 33, has been with the Portland side since 2017 and has 33 goals and 42 assists across 127 regular-season appearances. His contributions to the Rose City side have been winning two MLS Western Conference title in 2018 and 2021.
After suffering a torn ACL, the man involved in the field was valuable accruing seven goals and seven assists in just 1,182 minutes and leading the team to the MLS Cup Finals. In addition, he led Portland to win the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020 becoming an all-tournament honorable mention, and was an MLS-MVP candidate before his season-ending injury.
Sebastian Blanco’s returns to the Portland Timbers will be providential for manager Giovanni Savarese’s game plan for this 2022 campaign as well looking forward to being a big influence on returning U-22 midfielder Santiago Moreno and newcomer David Ayala.
With club legend Diego Valeri returning to Lanus via transfer, the responsibility will fall Blanco to lead the team on another challenging 2022 season and looking forward to a repeat of 2021. The deal will be on a TAM-level rather than a Designated Player, this will give Portland more flexibility on their roster to a third DP spot.
Currently, striker Jaroslaw Niezgoda and midfielder Yimmi Chara occupy those slots, the Timbers will decide him on the roster over the next three weeks ahead of roster compliance day and before MLS is Back weekend February 26-27.
Welcome Back, Che!
Portland Timbers
