Juan Fernando Quintero isn’t coming to the Chicago Fire

We got our first taste of coronavirus hiatus silly season yesterday, when a report linked Juan Fernando Quintero to the Chicago Fire. It was fun to think about, but a league source tells me there’s no truth to the rumor that Quintero is coming to Chicago. The Fire are already at their limit of three designated players and eight international players, so even if it were true, a deal for Quintero would have required quite a bit of maneuvering.

Other Fire news and notes:

• We got to hear from a couple players on social media yesterday. The Fire posted a video of CJ Sapong, who was thoughtful and infectiously positive, as usual.

“We can grow out here, y’all,” Sapong said. “Take a project on. Read a book. Work on a dance move—I did a little bit, good to know they’re still there. And, take an opportunity to tell your loved ones that you love them.”

• Francisco Calvo did a similar video in Spanish, where the club’s official Spanish-language Twitter account, @VamosFire, referred to him as “nuestro capitán”—our captain. Calvo wore the armband for the Fire’s first two matches, but the last time I talked to Raphael Wicky, he was still considering rotating captains within a “leadership group.” So, perhaps the club broke a bit of news there.

Anyway, Calvo told fans to “Hang in there together at home, and constantly wash your hands”—definitely good advice during these strange times.