It looks like the Carlos Valdés saga is coming to an end. WinSports is reporting that Valdés will return to his Colombian club Independiente Santa Fe today, and that the club will reacquire the 60% stake that was held by the Philadelphia Union and MLS (Independiente held 40% throughout). Juan Arango was first to break this, tweeting out the following yesterday:
For my Philly fans... Santa Fe bought 60% of your favorite son and he will be reporting to their practices tomorrow. http://t.co/ilcAck6E00
— Juan Arango (@JuanG_Arango) July 27, 2015
This will not have an effect on the Union as far as the salary cap situation goes, since Uruguay's Nacional had always paid Valdés' salary. This will also not help with the Union's international slot situation, since players out on loan do not count for an international slot.
Valdés tenure at the club was enigmatic to say the least. The rock at the heart of the Union's defense in 2011 and 2012, he went out on loan to Santa Fe in 2013 and Argentina's San Lorenzo in 2014 until the Argentine club didn't pay him for six months. After his stint with Colombia in the 2014 World Cup, he returned to the Union for the latter half of the 2014 season. His time away from San Lorenzo however had him show up to camp out of shape, and he struggled with the Union. At the start of the 2015 season, he was loaned out again to Uruguay's Nacional.