Red Bulls-Coco rumors resurface

Reports out of Italy are saying that Italian defender Francesco Coco has been offered contracts by the Red Bulls and New England Revolution.

How much truth is there to these reports? The Red Bulls passed on Coco back in early August but the team can certainly use an experienced central defender. This feels more like an agent's last-ditch attempt to get his client's name in the press in order to drum up interest.

If the Red Bulls really are trying to land Coco his arrival would allow the team to move Seth Stammler back to central midfield. I'm still not buying it though.

What do you think of this potential move? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Brad of SoccerFansintheUSA]

His name is CoCo and he swings from the trees. He loves to eat his Coco Krispies.

I have no idea who Coco is, so I thought I'd sing the Coco Krispies song.

[Frank the Frowner]

He would be an upgrade towhat we have. We the SI spot, but do we have the $? Id start Stammler on the right and sent Leitch to the unemployment line.

[sublicon]

He looks Italian as hell.

[Matt]

From what I can tell this is a player who never lived up to his potential and whose career has been beset by injuries. There have to be better - and probably cheaper - options out there for the Red Bulls.

What in the world has become of Markus Schopp? Is he just permanently in Bruce's doghouse after that string of poor performances earlier this season?

[mike]

get rid of schopp and sign the guy already!!

[Jasen]

Ives, any idea why RBNY passed on him a month ago?

[Evan]

From the sound of things it sounds like his agent's using a "big money move to MLS" (or equivalent) to try and create some artificial leverage for his client. This has been done before, and will be done again, but if the clubs he's being offered to (outside of MLS) do their homework, they'll see right through this and see Coco for what he is: a player who's potential hung him like a noose, who's now more concerned with the lifestyle professional football affords him rather than the sport that helps fund his lifestyle.

MLS can do without this joker.

[Istvan from Budapest]

I hope they don't break the bank for him.

He won't sell many tickets.

Would be a solid addition to any MLS team.

[nathan3e]

I have been an Inter supporter for many years and am familiar with Coco and his track record, or lack thereof. For the past two years Roberto Mancini has kept Coco around seeemingly to humiliate him. He is under contract but has not been assigned a number or included in the squad photograph. He has demonstrated repeatedly that the night life is a priority for him. With all of that said, I think it is safe to say that he is a better player than Seth Stammler. If Red Bull can sign him to an incentive laden contract that enables the club to release him if (when?) he does something impossibly stupid, it would be a good idea.

[Bill]

I could be wrong, but I thought Coco was more of a wing back than a central defender?

[Braden]

This is just the type of signing that MLS teams should avoid. He will probably cost more in terms of the salary cap than an equivalent US player and there is no guarantee that he will arrive with the right attitude or fitness to play well. If the Red Bulls do sign him, I hope they're smart and keep in on a short-term contract with incentives for good play rather than a large out-and-out salary.

[The Nick]

He's a left sided defender. Not sure if he has any experience at center back. He's played for some huge teams and in some big games. Played for the national team. Maybe he wants to come here for the nightlife? If so, I'd avoid him.

[nathan3e]

Coco has been a left back, but would likely be better off in the middle at this stage of his career. His representatives claim his contract with Inter has been "mutually rescinded" but Inter has not made a formal announcement of any kind, which probably says something about Coco as Inter formally announce everything. If Arena is really looking at 30 year old defenders, Hatem Trabelsi is still unattached, and he doesn't show up for training smoking a cigarette.

[Joamiq]

Whoa, Trabelsi doesn't have a team? Good call Nathan. You need to get on Arena's direct line.

As for Coco... "the main problem for Coco has been allegations of unprofessional conduct and his notorious celebrity lifestyle."

Hmm...

[sonofapele]

Redbull lack any class in the backline If we can get some help from europe Great .

[ag nigrin]

I'm not Coco for Coco Puffs!

[Andrew]

why would the revs offer this guy a contract? i dont really think they're in the market for defenders. steve nicol seems perfectly happy with starters heaps, parkhurst, and john, and has 2 decent bakcups in james riley and marshall leonard.

this story is booogus

[vipero]

Be careful, the land of Coco may cause dry mouth,
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, back hair,
bleeding gums, painful elbow sores,
backaches, memory loss, hallucinations
that you are Alan Greenspan, anxiety
attacks, random giggling, drippy ear wax,
excessive toenail growth, deja vu, the
ability to love both Country and Rap
music, foot fungus, nose bleeding,
convulsions, bloating, stiffness of the
joints, hyperactivity, drowsiness, insomnia,
cravings for Spotted Owl flavor ice cream,
water retention, gum disease, death,
baldness, wrinkles, depression, excess
nose hair, ability to believe everything Bill
Gates says, large mucous-filled nodules
on the face and hands, spontaneous
combustion, genital atrophy, increased
sex drive, frustration, ability to tell apart
different Hootie and the Blowfish songs,
itches, excess eyebrow hair, love of
asparagus, worms, growth of additional
limbs, ability to understand the X-Files,
headaches, euphoria, spontaneous
orgasms, fear of speaking in public,
uncontrollable ecstacy when listening to
Slim Whitman albums, forehead hair and many others...

[Franco S]

Inter ufficially announced today that the contract with Francesco Coco (expring on 2009) is resolved.

Basically, Coco got from Inter about 80% of the money they owned him until 2009.

Is there any news with him and NYRB?

[RichBullNY]

LOL! Vipero, I'm tearing here at work.

Sublicon's observation was hilarious as well.

[bronchits cure]

Thanks for some very useful info, I will be using this to form my medical research on this subject. There are very few places you can find such valueable information

[Stratumseind Eindhoven]

Other nominees are "Animals" for American Express, produced by Hungry Man (Ogilvy & Mather, ad agency); "Happiness Factory" for Coca Cola, produced by Psyop (Wieden Kennedy Amsterdam, ad agency); and "Pinball" for Pepsi, produced by Partizan Entertainment (BBDO New York).