Who is Montreal Impact's new man Hernan Bernardello?

The Montreal Impact have signed Hernan Bernardello as their second designated player (DP) but who is the Argentinean and what does he bring to the table? Al Dannity gives his take.

The first thing I thought when I heard Hernan Bernardello was Montreal’s second DP was “oh yeah, Nesta isn’t one.” The second, and first useful, thought I had was “finally some help in midfield.” Bernardello is not a household name but he has a lot going for him. The Argentinean, whose lone national team cap came in a roster made up of domestic players, has extensive experience in the Primera Division in his native land and played a couple of seasons in La Liga with Almeria. Reports earlier in the week suggested he was going to move on loan to a club in Mexico but instead, as expected, he signed with the Impact.

Bernardello’s relative youth, he’s 26, coupled with his position make him a vital piece for a Montreal team that is stuck in a rut. The defence needs help in front of it and an experienced defensive midfielder in the prime of his game is exactly the answer. There is often a rush to use DP slots on more attack minded players than Bernardello. It’s not just about ticket sales, fans love goals after all, it’s also about exploiting miss-matches. The advantage Marco Di Vaio holds over Major League Soccer defenders is easier to quantify than what a defensive midfielder brings to the table. It’s also a terribly simplistic way of looking at things. Without a solid spine behind him, the Impact’s star striker is wholly wasted. There’s no doubt this has been lacking as of late and the fairly rugged game played in Argentina means Bernardello won’t be short of graft. He’s a thinker on the field but the Argentinian is more than capable of getting down to the hard slog when necessary.

Bernardello has been on the Impact’s radar since March and Nick De Santis clearly saw him as being able to aid Montreal’s playoff push. Once word came that Bernardello was available, the Impact’s top brass was quick to bring him into the fold. The timing of the arrival isn’t just useful in terms of arresting Montreal’s current slump. With CONCACAF Champions League play quickly approaching, the Impact needed to bolster the squad. In a squad with several starters over 30, Bernardello should bring the dash of youth and energy that’s been missing.