Bernier: Mael Henry Nears CPL move

Canadian soccer icon Patrice Bernier has disclosed that midfielder Mael Henry is nearing a move to the Canadian Premier League.

The 18-year-old had recently departed the CF Montreal reserve side to undergo a trial with FC Loriente, and is now evidently keen to test himself in a first team environment back in Canada.

Henry, who can play as both a central midfielder or a centre-back, carved out five goals in 15 matches with the PLSQ-based reserves last year. He began his youth career with CS Boucaniers before eventually being recruited by CF Montreal Academy.

He featured for the Canada U-20 team at the Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship last summer, appearing as a late substitute against the USA and Saint Kitts and Nevis, scoring against the latter in the late stages of the match:

Described by former CF Montreal U-23 academy coach Nicholas Gagnon as a ‘pure playermaker who is capable of setting the table for his teammates’, he’s proven to be one of the most astute passers within the club’s academy – though he’s got an eye for goal, too.

“He is also capable of scoring goals. He has a very interesting profile. He is more attacking than Mathieu [Choiniere], but he can get Mathieu’s mentality. On the profile, and not on the level, he is between Mathieu and Djordje [Mihailovic],” Gagnon had told the Journal de Montreal last summer.

He’s also described as a player who ‘referees will remember’, suggesting that the young midfielder still has a few lessons in controlling his emotions on the picture.

For now, it remains to be seen where in the 18-year-old youngster might land. The Canada U-20 international should get a fair sniff of minutes should he ink a deal in the Canadian Premier League, where his youth international teammate Tiago Coimbra also recently ventured.

We also made mention of Keesean Ferdinand trialing with the Portland Timbers, with Benier also making mention that the former Atletico Ottawa loanee has had an impressive start stateside.

Source: Patrice Bernier (via Twitter)