The question has not yet finished being formulated when Romell Quioto begins to smile.
“I saw this question coming very well,” admitted the CF Montreal striker in Spanish, before his words were translated by an interpreter.
He was questioned about his contractual situation with the club. Because if things stay like this, the Honduran should be free as air at the end of the calendar.
“So far, no one from the club has contacted me,” says Quioto. But everyone knows very well that this club is very close to my heart. »
Regarding his love for the club, it is difficult to contradict him: he has “MTL” tattooed on his leg, having played for the Bleu-blanc-noir since 2020.
But this year, Quioto has had a lot more downs than ups with the CFM. His three goals were scored at the start of the season, before he injured his thigh in May and missed no less than 20 matches in all competitions.
His long rehabilitation followed three seasons where the Impact had to do without his offensive services for a long time, with 2022 being the least bad in this regard.
What’s more, during the 2023 mid-season review in June, sports director Olivier Renard took the liberty of openly criticizing his player, insinuating that he was not taking his remission seriously. Quioto had posted photos of himself in Miami, when he had obtained the club’s agreement to recover from his injury in Honduras.
“He’s going around the world a bit, there,” Renard had said.
“I will speak to you honestly, and not as a sports director,” he continued. I advise him to do his best to get back to 100% as quickly as possible.
“At the end of the day, he’s going to play for himself. He will play for a next contract, whether here or for another club. I don’t see why he would go partying every day. I advise him to work and come back as quickly as possible. »
On Instagram, Quioto wrote and then deleted a cryptic message: “language can do a lot,” followed by two crying-laughing emojis. Then he indicated more seriously that his “only objective [was] to find [his] teammates and help make this season a success for everyone! »
Even at the beginning of September, on Instagram, we saw the Honduran international celebrating and dancing in a bar with his former teammate Kei Kamara, drink in hand. It has now been three and a half months that CF Montreal has been impatiently awaiting – the word is weak – the return of its top scorer of the last three seasons.
All this to say that the love story between Quioto and Montreal seems to be in its final stages. The bit of information offered by the player on Monday morning, according to which there has still been no discussion for a new contract, did nothing to dispel doubts, let’s put it that way. And at 32 years old, with a long injury history, a contract extension would hardly fit with the current philosophy of the CFM, which is to give free rein to young people.
But there are still three games to go, and everything to play for qualification. CF Montreal still greatly needs the services of its striker.
He said Monday that he “feels good,” but not yet 100%. However, he is well aware of his club’s offensive setbacks, and would like to help it get out of it.
“We all know that we are going through difficult times right now with the team. But I’m here, and if I can contribute in my own way, including minutes and scoring goals, that’s what I want to do. »
