Trialists Sticking Around

The season might start in three short days, but the Red Bulls still appear to be adding to their roster.

Rafhinha, the Austrian-Brazilian Facebook sensation, said on his Twitter, according to the New York Post's Brian Lewis, he has signed with the team.

When Lewis got Head Coach Mike Petke on the phone, he was noncommittal on the signing, but did leave the Post with "he's intriguing" and "we're liking him."

According to Petke's comments, Rafhinha would give the Red Bulls more depth on the left wing and he can line up as a striker, which will help with the team's reported free-flowing attack.

The Red Bulls' other foreign trialist, Peguy Luyindula, seems like he's going to remain in camp to knock off the rust after spending two years on Paris Saint-Germain's bench.

In a separate Post story, Lewis reports that Petke likes what Luyindula can bring and that "it's only fair to give him the opportunity to show his best."

Luyindula played with Juninho and under Gerard Houllier at Lyon before moving to PSG. According to Lewis, both Thierry Henry and Juninho have vouched for Luyindula, but he'll have to show fitness before the Red Bulls take a real look at him.

Or, the Red Bulls, short on international slots and long on veteran players, will let one of Houllier's boys stick around and get fit in training and reserves matches before finding employment elsewhere.