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In a brief statement on its official website, Trabzonspor has announced Oscar Cardozo has asked to leave the club.
The 33-year-old Paraguayan striker has been linked to both New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake in MLS, but the most persuasive rumors suggest he has been wooed by Jorge Jesus, currently coach of Sporting Clube de Portugal. Cardozo enjoyed seven mostly-prolific seasons for Benfica in Portugal, before moving to Turkish side Trabzonspor in 2014. For five of those seasons in Lisbon, Jorge Jesus was Cardozo's head coach. So Sporting CP is the current favorite to land the forward, who is rumored to be willing to take a pay cut to re-connect with his former coach.
One man who isn't quite convinced that Cardozo is inevitably heading back to Portugal is Pedro Aldave: Cardozo's agent. In an interview with Radio 1 Marzo, Aldave noted the player's connection with Benfica might complicate a move to rival Sporting.
So perhaps the door hasn't closed on RBNY or RSL just yet.