Julio Cesar joins Toronto FC on loan

Toronto FC announced Friday that the club has acquired Brazilian international goalkeeper Júlio César on loan from English Championship side, Queens Park Rangers F.C. (QPR). As per team and league policy terms of the deal were not disclosed. He will be added to the roster upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and Visa.

“Adding a player of Júlio César’s experience and ability only strengthens our club both in the short and long term,” said Toronto General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “We are committed to creating a culture of winning at TFC, and there are few people in the world of soccer with a proven track record of consistently getting results that Julio has. We are very excited to bring him to Toronto FC.”

Julio Cesar fell out of favour at QPR, at first losing out on his starting job to Robert Green before failing to even make the squad on game days in recent weeks. He has remained as Brazil's starting 'keeper despite an almost complete lack of playing time with the English side, but his move to TFC should allow him to gain match sharpness ahead of this summer's World Cup.
"It's a new experience for me," Julio Cesar said of the move, preferring to focus on his new club rather than his national side. "It's a new country, new city, everything. I'm really happy."

Julio Cesar joins a TFC lineup that includes English international striker Jermain Defoe, American midfielder Michael Bradley, fellow Brazilians Gilberto and Jackson, and former MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario. The loan ostensibly means that Toronto's incumbent starting goalkeeper, Joe Bendik, will step aside as the team's No. 1, with Cesar manning the goal in the majority of TFC's matches until Brazil convenes for pre-World Cup training camp in May.

Profile

Júlio César, 34, joined QPR in August 2012 and made a combined 27 total appearances for the club in two seasons. His professional career began with Brazilian side, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (Flamengo) in 1997. He spent eight seasons with Flamengo, and made a combined 130 appearances and won the Campeonato Carioca four times (’99, ’00, ’01, ’04). The club also won another six trophies during his time at Flamengo. Júlio César joined Italian club, A.C. Chievo Verona on loan through F.C. Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan) in January 2005 but did not make an appearance for the club. In July 2005, he moved to Inter Milan on a permanent deal. In seven seasons with Inter Milan, Júlio César made a combined total of 300 appearances across all competitions, winning 14 trophies including five Scudetti (Italian league titles), the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League, the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, three Coppa Italia titles (’05-’06, ’09-’10, ’10-’11), and four Supercoppa Italiana titles (’05, ’06, ’08, ’10). Júlio César was named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year on two occasions (’08-’09 and ’09-’10), along with UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for 2009-10. He was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or award in 2009.

Júlio César has earned 77 caps to date for his native Brazil. His first international appearance came during the 2004 Copa América tournament, where he helped lead Brazil to the title over Argentina in a penalty shootout. Júlio César has also won the FIFA Confederations Cup with Brazil in both 2009 and 2013. He was part of Brazil’s squad at the FIFA World Cup in Germany (2006) and South Africa (2010). He has also represented Brazil at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2011 Copa América.