The New York Times-20080129-D-C- United Signs Midfielder- -Brief-

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D.C. United Signs Midfielder; [Brief]

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The Argentine midfielder Marcelo Gallardo signed with D.C. United on Monday, becoming the biggest of five South American additions to the club in the past week.The team also added the Peruvian goalkeeper Jose Carvallo, 21, and the Argentine defender Gonzalo Peralta, 27, on Monday as it held its first preseason practice.The 32-year-old Gallardo played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He will fill the central playmaker's role previously held by Christian Gomez, Major League Soccer's most valuable player in 2006. United is expected to trade Gomez.Last week, United signed the Colombian defender Gonzalo Martinez and obtained the Argentine forward Franco Niell.