CF Montréal bolsters centre back depth with signing of Gabriele Corbo from Bologna

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MLS

CF Montréal bolstered their centre back ranks on Monday, signing Italian defender Gabriele Corbo from Bologna FC on a contract through the 2024 season, with an option for 2025.

Corbo spent the 2022 season on loan from Bologna with Montréal, where he played 1403 minutes in 17 games across all competitions, before returning to Bologna this past offseason.

Now, however, he returns to MLS on a permanent deal, where he’ll bring some much-needed depth to Montréal’s centre back ranks, one that has been hit hard by injuries so far this season.

Despite trading for Atlanta United centre back George Campbell this offseason and a return of Kamal Miller and Joel Waterman despite transfer rumours, their centre back depth quickly got stretched to begin 2023.

As a result, full back Aaron Herrera has seen time at the position, as well as defensive midfielder Samuel Piette, although the club has finally been able to start their preferred trio of Miller, Waterman and Rudy Camacho for the past two games.

But with Miller remaining a strong candidate to leave the club this offseason, with rumours of a potential European move continuing to swirl around the Canadian, and a busy schedule of games, one that plays through several international breaks, the addition of Corbo comes at a perfect time for Montréal.

Before joining Montréal last season, the 23-year-old spent his whole career in Italy, starting out in the Spezia system, before joining Bologna’s U19s as an 18-year-old. He then made the jump up to the first team the next season, but he didn’t end up sticking around long, as he was sent to Serie B’s Ascoli on loan for 20/21, where he made 15 appearances.

Corbo is also one of several current Montréal players to have a connection to Bologna, who are both owned by Joey Saputo, with fellow Montréal teammate Lassi Lappalainen having played with him at Bologna, while the likes of Rida Zouhir and Nathan Saliba, among others, having had training stints at the club in recent years.