The trade came Monday, but Ike Opara’s exit from the Sporting Kansas City roster was put into motion two months ago, hours after the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Opara walked into Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes’ office and requested a raise. If the team was unable to meet that desire, he asked that Vermes consider trading him. The first request is not unusual, and Vermes says he didn’t have much of an issue with the latter one, either.
It’s the response that prompted the eventual finality of Opara’s tenure in Kansas City. The details from that meeting were publicized, and Vermes insists it didn’t come from his end.