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VANCOUVER -- Shortly after being named to his first head coaching job, Carl Robinson was on the phone with Camilo Sanvezzo to talk about getting the Vancouver Whitecaps star striker a new contract. Dennis Johnson Celtics Jersey . Robinson said that December conversation was cordial, with Sanvezzo expressing excitement about what lay ahead for the Whitecaps in 2014. "Three days later he was in Mexico with an opposition shirt on," said Robinson. "So obviously that put the cat amongst the pigeons and then we needed to address that situation." The Whitecaps finally did that on Friday, selling Major League Soccers top scorer to Queretaro F.C. in what it called a "multi-million dollar" deal that ended a messy, two-week long soap opera. Last seasons Golden Boot winner with 22 goals, Sanvezzo had turned his back on the Whitecaps, practising with Queretaro and posing for pictures in the teams kit, even though the flashy Brazilian was still under contract with Vancouver. When Robinson travelled to Mexico to sit down with the 25-year-old Sanvezzo last week to see if anything could be done to heal the relationship, he knew there was no way back. "It surprised me and Ive been in football 25 years," said Robinson. "Hopefully we can put it to bed and move forward." That could prove to be a challenge. The Whitecaps -- who will get the majority of transfer fee, with MLS pocketing the rest -- tried to put a positive spin on a situation that can only be described as a disaster both on and off the field with pre-season training set to start next week. Sanvezzo joined Vancouver in 2011, scoring 39 goals in 92 league games, including 75 starts. The Whitecaps scored 53 times in MLS play last season, with Sanvezzo playing a part in 28 of them. He even told reporters after the Whitecaps missed the playoffs and fired head coach Martin Rennie that Robinson -- then an assistant with the club -- would be a good candidate for the job. "Its a frustrating situation because we believe we did what we needed to do," said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. "We talked about sitting down with him and doing a new deal ... prior to getting to that, he was in Mexico in another teams jersey." While the Whitecaps could have gone the legal route and forced Sanvezzo -- who had two option years left on his deal -- back to Vancouver, Lenarduzzi said his mind was already made up. "When we sat down with Camilo, he said he was done," said Lenarduzzi, his voice raised as he met with reporters at Vancouver International Airport after arriving back from the MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia. "He had given Queretaro his word that he would be going there. "Why are we going to battle someone that doesnt want to be here, thats actually reneged on his word when he signed a contract with us and then turned around and says hes given a club that hes going to, who he doesnt have a contract with, his word? "He doesnt want to be here, obviously, so on you go." Queretaro president Adolfo Rios apologized in a brief statement released by the Whitecaps for the way in which the situation was handled. "On behalf of our club, we sincerely regret our misunderstanding in regards to Camilos contract earlier in the process," the statement read. Sanvezzo made US$247,500 last season, which put him third on the Whitecaps, but that number paled in comparison to fellow striker Kenny Millers salary of nearly $1.25 million. Robinson said Sanvezzo never asked for a raise and was made aware that no contracts talks would take place until a new coach was named. The loss of Sanvezzo creates an obvious hole up front for Vancouver, but perhaps more importantly, the spectacular departure also leaves the Whitecaps looking weak from a public relations perspective after the player simply refused to honour his contract. Trying to find a silver lining and with the regular season less than two months away, Robinson and Lenarduzzi both said that the money from the sale will be invested back into the club -- perhaps a creative midfielder that the Whitecaps have been lacking. Vancouver fans have watched Canadian cousins Toronto FC make major moves this off-season, including the signings of striker Jermaine Defoe and midfielder Michael Bradley. "There will be a number of signings coming in. Over the last few weeks weve had a lot to deal with," said Robinson. "Hopefully in the next few days and weeks there will be a lot of new players coming in." Lenarduzzi added that Sanvezzos departure opens up a spot for some of Vancouvers younger players, including strikers Darren Mattocks, Omar Salgado and Kekuta Manneh. "We have some guys that are ironically enough pretty excited that Camilos not coming back, not for the fact that they dont get along with him but (because) its going to provide opportunities," said Lenarduzzi. The off-season was anything but quiet for the Whitecaps before the Sanvezzo soap opera took centre stage in the new year. The team took six weeks to name a new coach, with Vancouver striking out in its attempt to hire former United States national team boss Bob Bradley before settling on Robinson. Mattocks also went on Jamaican television and expressed his displeasure with how he was used during the 2013 campaign. The 37-year-old Robinson, just past the first month at the helm, said the Sanvezzo saga has been a learning experience. "Ive dealt with it professionally and honestly and the club has done the same as well," said the Welshman. "Im sure Ill be a better person for it and a better head coach moving forward." Notes: The Whitecaps said that midfielder Andre Lewis, who was drafted seventh overall on Thursday, is their property despite a report that said he had signed with the NASLs New York Cosmos. Both Lenarduzzi and Robinson said MLS and the Cosmos are dealing with the situation and that Vancouver expects that Lewis will take part in pre-season training. ... Lenarduzzi said the Whitecaps are nearing a deal that will keep captain Jay DeMerit with the club. Shaquille ONeal Celtics Jersey . "We were left with the overall impression that the team wasnt trending toward being able to compete for a Stanley Cup," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said in a news conference at the clubs arena. "And that was just a clear signal and why it was time to make those changes. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . Lupul injured the hand in a fall at practice on Thursday. He will wear a cast for a minimum of 10 days before he can put a glove back on it and get some mobility back, said Carlyle, who added the winger wont go on the teams upcoming road trip. http://www.celticsteamproshop.com/Cheap-John-Havlicek-Celtics-Jersey/ . LeBron James leads the Miami Heat in a quest for three consecutive championship titles, while Tim Duncan looks to add his fifth ring with the San Antonio Spurs when the series tips off with Game 1: Miami @ San Antonio on Thursday, June 5 at 9 p.It seemed somehow serendipitous that on a day when we turned the calendar to June, the Vancouver Whitecaps were establishing a litany of new “firsts” as they overturned the Portland Timbers in a pulsating, enthralling encounter in the Rose City. Vancouvers first ever win over their expansion cousins (and, obviously, a first at Providence Park) came after nine attempts. That seems hard to believe given the Whitecaps run of results leading up to the two Cascadian rivals joining MLS from North Americas second tier. Equally amazing, the 4-3 loss at home was Portlands first in 23 games, a remarkable record stretching all the way back to March 9, 2013 when the Montreal Impact took all three points at the then Jeld-Wen Field. The win extended Vancouvers unbeaten run to six games, another first for the young MLS franchise. That may not pop off the page like a 22-game unbeaten run at home, but when you also include a road game at the Columbus Crew and home games with the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders in that period, the achievement seems a bit more noteworthy. Two converted penalties was a Whitecaps first on the road. (They did score twice from the spot against Real Salt Lake at home, late in the 2011 season). While referee Kevin Stott put himself in terrific position to see both first-half incidents in Portland, its hard not think about the penalty gods who somehow erased a dubious decision from a week ago with the Whitecaps leading Seattle. Erik Hurtado scored his first ugly goal of the season. The Beaverton, Oregon boy came home to bury a psychologically punishing chance that completely changed the complexion at half-time. The predatory instinct of Vancouvers fifth-overall pick from 2013 was clearly on display after he forced a great save from Donovan Ricketts before bundling the ball home by anticipating a rebound. Bill Russell Celtics Jersey. Its a difficult feat to score four goals in four-straight games, but Hurtado has done it four different ways and, for good measure, showed a different quality by beautifully setting up Kekuta Manneh leading to the second penalty. Goals at Philadelphia on Saturday and Montreal after the World Cup break would tie and then break the five-goals-in-five-MLS-games record held by Camilo over June and July of last year. But perhaps the most exciting “first” of all was the two goals and two assists from Whitecaps midfield maestro Pedro Morales, who, with each passing game, looks like an odds-on early season choice for MLS Newcomer of the Year. The Chilean conductor out “number 10d” last years recipient of that award, Diego Valeri, by quite some margin. His vision to pick out Hurtado on the first-half stoppage time 3-1 goal was incisive and impossible to defend. But his delay, recognition, and then exquisite ball to Jordan Harvey early in the second was even better and it proved to be the game winner. Morales is a bona fide superstar and one who seems to be relishing his role with the club. It looks likely that hell provide some more milestones before this season is done. The Whitecaps will now get a chance to cross another couple of “firsts” off their list - a first goal and victory at PPL Park in Philadelphia, where the Caps visit the Union this Saturday. Judging by their current form, and their ability to “feast on the East” that seems like a pretty safe bet. Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Stitched Jerseys ' ' '