Italian D Corbo back with CF Montreal following transfer from Bologna FC

MONTREAL — Defender Gabriele Corbo is back with CF Montreal following a transfer from Italian club Bologna FC.

Corbo signed a two-season contract for the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Major League Soccer club, with an option year in 2025.

The 23-year-old Italian played 14 MLS regular-season games last season, including 13 starts, while on loan from Bologna to Montreal.

Corbo was also started for Montreal in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 against Santos Laguna. He played two games in the Canadian Championship against Forge FC and Toronto FC

Prior to joining CF Montreal in 2022, Corbo joined Italian Serie B Ascoli on loan from Bologna for the 2020-21 season. He played 14 games in the Italian second division before making the jump to North America.

Corbo's move to MLS was facilitated by a partnership between Montreal and Bologna. Montreal owner and president Joey Saputo is also chairman of Bologna.

Corbo's arrival comes as Montreal deals with a depleted defensive corps.

Defenders George Campbell and Aaron Herrera missed Montreal's 3-2 win at Philadelphia on Saturday with injuries, while Kamal Miller played 80 minutes despite initially being ruled out with a calf ailment.

"We are very happy to have Gabriele back with us, but this time permanently,” Montreal vice-president and chief sporting officer Olivier Renard said in a release.

"He showed great things with us last season and his return will add to the competition within the squad. He will now have the chance to establish himself in Montreal."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2023.