FC Dallas inks Colombian back Benitez on loan

By Zac Lee Rigg, Special to SI.com, Goal.com

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FC Dallas has acquired left-sided defender Jair Benitez on loan from Deportivo Cali. The Colombian will officially join the team upon receipt of his international transfer certificate.

"Jair Benitez is going to be a very good addition for FC Dallas," said FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman in a statement. "He brings tremendous experience and athleticism to the left fullback position, one of the areas on our team that we had identified for improvement. In addition to being a good defender, Jair is a pure left-sided player that can get up and down the line, overlap and send in crosses."

The 30-year-old has played in a variety of clubs in Colombia and Argentina, winning two Copa Mustangs with Independiente Medellin.

To make room for Benitez, Dallas waived Michael Dello-Russo. The defender had been with Dallas since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.