DALLAS – The Dallas Burn announced today that they have traded defensive midfielder Leonel Alvarez and future considerations to the New England Revolution for Ecuadorian striker Ariel Graziani. Graziani, who was allocated to New England on June 26th of this year, has played in 3 games for the Revolution this season.

Graziani, 28, has 12 goals in 21 appearances for the Ecuadorian National Team. Prior to joining the Revolution, he played for Morelia of the Mexican first division. He finished among the top ten goalscorers in Mexico in 1998 and 1999. In 1996 and 1997, he led the Ecuadorian league in scoring with Emelec, netting 52 goals in 69 games. Graziani made his professional debut in 1993 with Newell's Old Boys of Argentina, before being transferred to Sport Boys of the Peruvian first division in September of 1993. In 1995, he joined Aucas of Ecuador's first division, and consequently, signed with Emelec in 1997.

Alvarez played in 21 games for the Burn in 1999, tallying six assists. Since 1996, Alvarez has played in 70 regular season games for the Burn, and was voted the Burn's Honda MVP for the 1996 season.