Ruiz Arrival Planned For Tuesday

Putting an end to rumors about whether he would even report to his new team, Carlos Ruiz is scheduled to arrive in Toronto on Tuesday to meet his new teammates and tour the facilities, according to a press release put out by Toronto FC Media Relations.The Los Angeles Galaxy announced that they had traded Ruiz to Toronto FC on Wednesday, while the Guatemalan forward was in his home country preparing to take on the USA in a World Cup Qualifier. Though he was expected to report to his new team before last weekend, there was no sighting of the Little Fish as TFC fought the New England Revolution to a 1-1 tie on Saturday.

“When he didn’t turn up at the weekend, everybody was saying it was because he doesn’t want to play on the turf, but that wasn’t the case,” said head coach John Carver. “The good news is that he is flying in tonight and then he can see the stadium and the facilities and have a look at the turf.”

Ruiz, 28, made 10 appearances this season for the Galaxy, scoring just once before being traded. He has 82 MLS goals to his credit in 150 games played, making him one of the most prolific scorers in league history, but also has a well-earned reputation for being a dirty player and a diver.

“They tell me he is one of the best finishers in the league, so that excites me,” continued Carver. “I’ve heard he is a good guy in the locker room and that he’s a good character. What I’m not going to do is start a war with him. You can’t do that with certain players. Some players need a cuddle to get the best out of them and you have to get in the faces of others. This is a guy who you have to show respect to. He can be a hero here.”