Fernando Cavenaghi signs for APOEL FC, ends MLS (and RBNY) rumors

The rumor that Fernando Cavenaghi might move to MLS has been with us for most of the year - including a scarcely credible whisper about the New York Red Bulls back in March. As recently as last week, there were still reports - quoting the man himself - suggesting he had offers from the US.

But the Cavenaghi-to-MLS rumors peaked around the beginning of August, when he won Copa Libertadores with River Plate and the MLS transfer window was just about to close. Real Salt Lake was named as a candidate for the 31-year-old Argentine's services.

On August 25, however, all those rumors were finally, decisively crushed: Cavenaghi signed for APOEL FC. The club has won the Cypriot Championship for the past three years, and has made regular appearances in the UEFA Champions League over the past several seasons.

Cavenaghi signed just in time to watch his new club consigned to Europa League soccer this season by a 1-1 draw with Kazakhstan's FC Astana. But he has a two year contract, so the chance of a Champions League campaign with APOEL is not entirely vanished.

We may not have heard the last of Cavenaghi-to-MLS rumors, since even a 34-year-old Cavenaghi will likely be an attractive prospect to several teams around the world, including a few in MLS. But it would be surprising to hear his name linked to RBNY again, given the club's current focus on younger players.

Still, Cavenaghi will meet at least one former Red Bull in Cyprus. Markus Holgersson plays for Anorthosis, and scored a goal in the club's season-opening win against AEL on August 23. The ex-RBNY center back was once compared to a moonwalking bear by his team's technical director. Anorthosis is due to play APOEL on November 20.