SEATTLE – Was Thursday night's loss in Seattle the final match Fredy Montero will play for the Vancouver Whitecaps?
The striker's season-long loan to Vancouver from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Teda is now complete. Montero still has a year to go in his deal with the Chinese side and very little has been said about the Colombian's future with the Whitecaps.
Vancouver gave up $100,000 in 2018 General Allocation Money, $125,000 in 2018 Targeted Allocation Money, and an international roster spot to Minnesota United to move up to number one in the MLS Allocation Process to land Montero back in February.
That's a lot of future assets to give up for what could be a one-year fix to Vancouver's long-standing scoring problems. The club’s brass now have to determine if they’re willing to pay what it takes to secure Montero's services long term. The 30-year-old was very non-committal about what the future may hold in store for him.
"It's too soon to think about it," Montero told reporters after the loss in Seattle. "I think I'm going to use some days in vacation and try to not think about soccer for a while. Then I have to talk to the Chinese team and see what's going to happen because I still have one more year with them."
There's no doubting that Montero was a key addition and asset to the Whitecaps attack, finishing the season as the club's top scorer with 14 goals in the regular season and playoffs, his MLS career high. That tally is also the second highest scoring total from a Vancouver player in the MLS era, the highest since Camilo won the MLS Golden Boot with 22 goals in 2013.
Of course, Montero was often left without much help. The Colombian played as a lone striker role for Vancouver this year, often cutting an isolated figure in the Whitecaps attack and receiving little service.
It's something that frustrated Montero, but he feels he made the most of the situation.
"If I have to play like this, I did it during the whole season," Montero said. "I scored 13 goals and one more in the playoffs. I can't say anything bad about it, but yeah, I wish I had more support up front, especially in these two games [against Seattle]."
Whether Montero will be in Vancouver next season or not, he spoke positively about what the Whitecaps achieved this season and is confident the team has a bright future.
"Honestly, this team did so much this year," Montero said. "During the season we got third place in the West. We set a standard this year and next year is going to be more difficult for the players to fight for one spot, and that's going to bring the best from you."
