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TORONTO -- Young, good-looking and said to be a pure goal-scorer, Brazils Gilberto ticks most of Tim Leiwekes boxes for a designated player. The 24-year-old forward speaks Portuguese, however, making selling Toronto FC and MLS a little tough. No English, no problem, said Leiweke. "We have someone else coming in to do that for us," said the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Leiweke, TFC manager Ryan Nelsen and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko werent saying more but their wide smiles Friday spoke volumes. Toronto FC fans should probably get their order in for a red jersey with No. 18 on the back. Expect Spurs star and England striker Jermain Defoe to swagger through the door sometime soon, complete with a truckload of MLSE cash. Gilberto joins midfielder Matias Laba as a TFC designated player. The 31-year-old Defoe, who used to play with Nelsen at Tottenham, would be a giant cherry on the cake. Another MLS veteran could arrive next week and there could be more coming. The club has talked to former TFC player Dwayne De Rosario, although the former league MVP would have to accept a reduced salary and role. Still, the team believes the 35-year-old Canadian captain could play a key role on and off the field, while closing out his career before adoring fans in his home town. First things first, however. Its been a bumper week for Toronto with the signing of Gilberto, goalkeeper Joe Bendik inking a new deal, Greg Vanney coming on board as academy director and the acquisition of Brazilian midfielder Jackson from FC Dallas. The 6-17-11 team was also chuffed at picking up first-round draft picks in 2014 and 15 for the rights to goalkeeper Stefan Frei (dealt to Seattle) and midfielder Bobby Convey (dealt to New York Red Bulls). Given both players were on their way out, it was essentially a case of getting something for nothing. Gilberto was the big catch of the week, however. Bezbatchenko called the Brazilian a "young rising star of the game." "A great coup for the club," said Nelsen, whose off-field connections helped cut through the red tape of dealing with Brazil. Its also a coup for the North American league, which in the past has had to settle for aging overseas stars. Gilberto is young, has played at a high level and comes with solid credentials. MLS fans should see him flourish rather than fade. Loaned out by Internacional, Gilberto Oliveira Souza Junior scored 14 goals in 28 games in Brazils top division this season in helping Portuguesa avoid relegation (although the club still could be demoted for mistakenly using an irregular player in the final round last weekend). Gilberto was signed by Internacional from third-division club Santa Cruz in 2011 but didnt make the team, playing only sparingly. He then joined Sport Club de Recife on loan in 2012 before coming to Portuguesa this year. In four seasons in the Brazilian Serie A, he has made 109 appearances, with 38 goals and 10 assists. Bezbatchenko said Gilberto turned down deals in Mexico, Germany and other countries to choose Toronto and MLS. The Mexican offers were in the four-million-euro (C$5.8 million) range. Speaking through an interpreter, Gilberto came across as charismatic and self-assured at a news conference in the Air Canada Centre foyer. "Im very happy to be here," he said. The Brazilian said he had been enticed by Nelsens plans for the future during a visit to Brazil. He specifically cited the clubs championship ambitions, which seem a reach given the teams performance in recent years. "Its not necessarily the past that attracts players obviously, its the future," said Nelsen. The stability of MLSE, TFCs well-appointed training facility and a good fan base no doubt helped sell the Brazilian on Toronto. Plus the club wanted him. "He scores all types of goals -- whether theyre headers, left foot, right foot, inside the box, outside the box ... His work ethic is tremendous, his character is tremendous," Nelsen said. "He showed great leadership on the field and is a very humble human being off it, which is extremely important to me." Speaking through an interpreter, Gilberto said he also liked the idea that the league was growing. "This made me open my eyes and I was looking for new challenges for myself," he said. Gilberto, who has a fiancee, grew up a Flamengo fan, with Romario and Ronaldo among his favourite players. Toronto FC has failed to make the playoffs in its seven-year history and finished 17th in the 19-team league this season, scoring just 30 goals in 34 games. Cheap Adidas Springblade .com) - Wayne Simmonds, Scott Laughton and Jakub Voracek each posted a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers thumped the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-1, on Saturday. Yeezy 350 Cheap Real . "This isnt really the week you want to lose Chris Greaves," fellow lineman Glenn January said Wednesday after practice. Greaves is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a knee injury in last weeks 36-28 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. http://www.nmdsneakerssale.com/nmd-shoes-human-race-deals.html . Iwakuma pitched seven strong innings to stay unbeaten in road games since last July, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. Yeezy Boost 350 China . Yet coming off consecutive series losses at St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Los Angeles needed some sort of spark as August approaches. The Dodgers found it in the ballpark of their biggest rival, and left the Bay Area in first place following an emphatic three-game swing. Nmd Fake Vs Original . Particularly when speaking in the stadium of Tuesdays opponent: Manchester City. "Maybe they dont fear us as before," Pique said on Monday, "because in the last two years we didnt win the Champions League.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Quarterback EJ Manuel returned to practice Sunday and the Bills are cautiously optimistic about his chances of starting the season opener. Manuel returned after missing two weeks because of a left knee injury. He participated in warm-ups and individual drills, where he moved well and did not show any ill effects from the injury. He was wearing a small brace on his left knee. "He looked good," Bills coach Doug Marrone said. "I say that not knowing what can happen in the next couple days, but as far as today I think he looked good." Manuel had been out since suffering a knee injury in Buffalos second preseason game on Aug. 16. He had what the team called a "minor procedure" on the knee on Aug. 18. Manuel wasnt the only Bills player to return on Sunday. Safety Jairus Byrd, who missed all of the off-season after receiving the franchise tag, practiced on a limited basis after getting a second opinion on his injured foot. Byrd said that he is dealing with plantar fasciitis, an injury that affects the sole of the foot. Running back C.J. Spiller returned to practice after spending a week with his family in his hometown of Lake Butler, Fla. Spillers step-grandfather, Hubert Allen, allegedly killed two people and shot two others before committing suicide on Aug. 24. Manuel topped the list of returning players. The Bills plan to give Manuel his first reps in team drills since the injury on Monday. Marrone had previously said that he would like the first-round pick to be fully practicing by Wednesday in order for him to have a chance of starting the season opener on Sunday against New England. "If we can have him practicing on Wednesday and we feel that hes good enough and mentally ready to play, then hes going to play," Marrone said. Manuel is encouraged by his quick progress. "Its very reassuring," Manuel said. "I just really want to see how it reacts tomorrow as far as the soreness or anything like that, which I dont think Ill have any soreness cause I didnt have any after I ran around and threw the other day. Im just looking forward to moving on tomorrow and getting more reps in practice.&" Manuels return gives the Bills some good news at quarterback after a tumultuous preseason at the position.dddddddddddd Veteran Kevin Kolb, who was competing with Manuel for the starting quarterback job, was placed on injured reserve on Aug. 30. Kolb suffered a concussion against the Washington Redskins on Aug. 24. Kolb also missed time at training camp because of a left knee injury after tripping on a wet rubber mat between practice fields. With Kolb and Manuel injured, the Bills briefly had only one healthy quarterback in undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel. Buffalo added free agent Matt Leinart and acquired Thad Lewis in a trade with Detroit prior to the teams final preseason game, but both players were released on Saturday. Lewis has since rejoined the Bills as a member of the practice squad. Byrds status for the season opener is less clear. Byrd travelled to North Carolina on Saturday to visit with foot specialist Robert Anderson before revealing the nature of his plantar fasciitis injury on Sunday. Byrd missed the entire off-season before signing his one-year, $6.9 million franchise tender on Aug. 20. "Hes still working his way back in," Marrone said. "Doing a couple team things, but again, still working his way back in to get him in a position where he can help us." Spiller did not participate in practice, but was glad to return to his teammates following the events in Florida. "I understand that it is a tragic event that took place and its going to take a while to cope with it, but at the same time I cant forget the task and the goal and the dreams that we have as a team and as an organization," Spiller said. "I want to be a part of that, and Ill do everything I can to make sure that Im ready to go." NOTES: The Bills were awarded cornerback Brandon Burton off waivers Sunday. Burton was a fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2011. The 6-foot, 185-pound corner has played in 14 games with one start. He has eight tackles in his career. ... The Bills added five players to their practice squad: G Mark Asper, DE Jamie Blatnick, DE Izaan Cross, QB Thad Lewis and WR Tommy Streeter. ' ' '