Clearly, the Montreal Impact were scouting Alajuelense last season during the CONCACAF Champions League for more than just potential weaknesses they could exploit. 

Montreal continues to get stronger

The Canadian outfit have already significantly strengthened their squad during MLS's summer transfer window by signing former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, and on Monday they added to the list of improvements made by signing Costa Rican international Johan Venegas from Alajuelense. 

Familiarity with the player

Venegas is a player with whom the Impact are familiar, given that they faced off with each other twice back in the spring during Champions League play. He has appeared 58 times in league play for the Costa Rican giants, scoring 15 times and assisting on 10 occasions. His play there caught the attention of Costa Rican national team manager Paulo Wanchope, who called him up for the first time last September for the Copa Centroamerica. Venegas scored two of his four international goals in that tournament, and has been capped 14 times by the Ticos.

The club are pleased with the signing

The 26-year-old winger appears to be exactly the sort of player Impact manager Frank Klopas was hoping to sign before the transfer window closed.

"Johan is a quality player at a good age," said Klopas. "He will help this team in the second half of the season and he is a good addition for the future of this club."

It is not just the on-field staff of the club who are pleased with the acquisition. No, Venegas has impressed the club brass as well.

"We are very happy to have completed the transfer and signing of Johan Venegas," said Adam Braz, Montreal's technical director. "He is a quality player with international experience who can play in multiple positions. He will be a very good addition to the team."

The winger will have his first opportunity to make his debut on Wednesday night, when the Impact play host to the New York Red Bulls. If he doesn't play on Wednesday, he'll get another chance to debut in front of his home fans on Saturday when the Impact host DC United.