Midfielder Julian Altobelli is shown playing for Toronto FC 2 against New York City FC 2 at York Lions Stadium in MLS Next Pro action on Sept. 15, 2024.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto FC-Lucas Kschischang
*MANDATORY CREDIT *
Toronto FC 2, TFC’s reserve side which plays in MLS Next Pro, has started reshaping its 2025 roster with question marks over the future of captain and leading scorer Julian Altobelli, forward Jesús Batiz and goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario among others.
All three are out of contract at the end of 2024, along with midfielders Matthew Catavolo and Charlie Staniland. The club says contract talks are ongoing with “select players out of contract.”
Altobelli, a midfielder, tied for sixth in the league with 11 goals, adding four assists in 23 games with TFC 2 this season.
He scored in the regular-season finale – a 4-1 win at Crown Legacy FC – to become TFC 2’s all-time leading scorer with his 21s career goal. He also became the first player in club history and second in MLS Next Pro to score in nine straight appearances for TFC 2.
Altobelli, who joined the Toronto academy in January 2014, has spent the last four season with TFC 2. The 22-year-old from Woodbridge, Ont., is a former youth international who made six appearances for the Canadian under-17 team in 2019.
Batiz, who had four goals and three assists in 22 games this season, was called up by Honduras for CONCACAF Nations League play.
De Rosario, the son of Canada Soccer Hall of Famer Dwayne De Rosario, played 20 games for TFC 2 this season with two clean sheets.
TFC 2 exercised the contract options on goalkeeper Shafique Wilson and midfielders Markus Cimermancic, Mark Fisher and Costa Iliadis. It declined options on goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez and defender Kundai Mawoko.
Defender Marko Stojadinovic, midfielders Hassan Ayari, Andrei Dumitru, Lucas Olguin and forward Dékwon Barrow have guaranteed contracts for next season.
Defender Ythallo Rodrigues de Oliveira is returning to São Paulo FC in his native Brazil following the conclusion of the season-long loan.
TFC 2 (10-12-16) finished 12th in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference, missing out on the playoffs.
Toronto FC 2 Current Roster
Goalkeepers:Shafique Wilson.
Defenders: Marko Stojadinovic.
Midfielders: Hassan Ayari, Markus Cimermancic, Andrei Dumitru, Mark Fisher, Costa Iliadis, Lucas Olguin.
Forwards:Dékwon Barrow.
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.
