The Whitecaps have finalized and announced the signing of forward/midfielder Davide Chiumiento who was once described as the Swiss Ronaldinho. After helping his former team earn a birth in the Europa League the Swiss international signed with the D2 Caps on a free transfer during the summer of 2010 from Lucerne of the Swiss League. The former Juventus academy product tries to pattern his game after his childhood hero and Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero. While primarily having played as a winger or as an attacking midfielder, he came to Vancouver with the desire to play the second striker position and he looks to have earned the spot.
After his delayed arrival he did not see much success in the few games he played in D2 for the Vancouver Whitecaps. The coaching staff claimed that it was unfair for him as Chiumiento was thrown into the stretch drive of the playoffs and his lack of conditioning and chemistry with new teammates was clearly evident. Despite the excuse many felt he would not be a great fit for the Caps at the next level when the team would join the MLS. However, once preseason camp began he eliminated those concerns as he started showing flashes of why the expansion team had high hopes for him in MLS.While not having a top gear, Dede is quick and displays great ball skills and is able to distribute to his teammates with ease. Chiumiento will be needed to help manufacture goals with his playmaking ability during from the forward position as he will need to provide service to both new signee Eric Hassli and the midfielders joining the attack. In addition to his passing Chiumiento has shown a knack for goalscoring as he showed in his last season in the Swiss League where he scored 11 goals. Look for him to be especially dangerous in set pieces as he has shown the ability to become a free kick specialist for the Whitecaps. He will still have to prove that he can take the physical pounding that normally occurs in the box and also track back to play defense on occasion.
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