Real Salt Lake: Team acquires Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio

SANDY — Real Salt Lake has finally found a striker to replace Yura Movsisyan.

Just two weeks from the start of the 2010 season, RSL announced Friday that it acquired Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio on loan from his Swiss club FC Sion.

Saborio, 27, brings a wealth of experience to RSL and should start alongside Robbie Findley once he's cleared to play in league games.

Saborio has already started training with Real Salt Lake in Charleston, S.C., and he could play in the club's match against D.C. United today at 3 p.m. in the Carolina Challenge. He won't, however, be eligible to participate in MLS matches until he receives his International Transfer Certificate and work visa.

"We are energized that our pursuit of a striker has reached a successful conclusion with the addition of ?varo Saborio," said RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey. "We still have a few steps to complete in obtaining his player pass and securing a work permit, but if we are able to accomplish those steps we are cautiously optimistic ?varo could be available to play early in the season."

Along with Movsisyan departing for Europe at the end of last season, the need for a striker became more pressing for RSL when it recently waived both Abe Thompson and Tino Nunez.

Saborio has played for three different clubs during his nine-year professional career, as well as regularly representing the Costa Rican National Team.

His most recent club stint was at Bristol City in the English second division. He appeared in 21 matches during the 2009-2010 season while on loan from FC Sion. Prior to that loan spell, Saborio scored 36 goals in 87 appearances for FC Sion from 2006 to 2009.

Saborio began his career with Costa Rican power Club Deportivo Saprissa, where he scored 95 goals in 149 appearances over a five year span. In leading the club to league titles during the 2003-04 and 2005-06 seasons, he also helped Saprissa advance to back-to-back CONCACAF Champions Cup title games, with his team claiming the crown in 2005.

For his country, Saborio has made 55 appearances, including two substitute appearances during the 2006 World Cup. Costa Rica did not qualify for the 2010 World Cup this summer in South Africa, so once Saborio's paperwork clears RSL should have his services for the entire MLS season.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com