BRIDGEVIEW, IL - Chicago Fire Soccer announced today the signing of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Marques Menezes, acquired from São Carlos FC of the Compeonato Paulista Série A3 in Brazil. Per Major League Soccer policy, terms of the contract were not released. The Fire used one of its five Discovery player slots to bring in Menezes.
The 23-year-old Brazilian will be classified as a Youth International alongside Fire defender Osei Telesford of Trinidad and Tobago and fellow Brazilian Willian Oliveira. With the signing, the Fire has filled all three of their Youth International roster spots. Menezes (pronounced me-NEZ-ez) will be available for selection on Sunday, July 1, for the Fire's match against the Colorado Rapids.
"We are happy to add Bruno to our roster," said interim head coach Denis Hamlett. "He has been training with us for awhile now and during that process we've been able to see he's a player that can help us for the rest of the season. He's versatile, he can play right wing or right back. With Thiago and Willian already here, I think it will help him easily adapt to our team and the league."
Menezes is the third Brazilian on the Fire's roster, joining Thiago, and Oliveira. The outside right midfielder is fast and tireless on the flank, carries the ball with confidence, and is attentive to both sides of the transition. He joins the Fire after spending a year with São Carlos FC (2007) and União São João (2006), and spending three years with Mogi Mirim (2002-2005).
