Fire linked with attacking midfielder Juan Quintero

A tweet earlier today by Taylor Twellman sent a few waves of excitement through the Fire fan base. Already dizzy from the team’s perch at the top of the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings— led by stellar performances from the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Nemanja Nikolic, Dax McCarty and Juninho— it would appear the Fire are not quite done building the squad.

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has already amassed a wealth of experience playing in Europe and South America. Quintero came up through the youth system at Envigado before being snatched up by Colombian powerhouse Atlético Nacional. It did not take long for Quintero to make the jump to Europe— first playing for Pescara in Italy before moving to Portuguese heavyweights FC Porto.

Quintero was also part of the barnstorming Colombian squad at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He scored the deciding goal for Los Cafeteros in their 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in the group stages.

It seemed Quintero was emerging as one of the supreme rising youth talents from South America. Porto has a long history of guiding talented youngsters and pushing them onto further success. Yet after spending two full seasons in Porto, things never quite clicked for Quintero, and he’s spent the past two years out on loan at Rennes and, currently, Independiente Medellín in his hometown.

As Twellman noted, any move will certainly be complicated. Quintero is in a bit of a lull in his career trajectory. But Quintero has the type of pedigree and attacking talent many clubs are looking for.

At just 24 it may be worth the gamble. And the thought of him lining up ahead of McCarty and Schweinsteiger in the Fire’s midfield is an exciting prospect.

Watch this space.