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But there is much to consider as one peers into the crystal ball, from Adnan’s reported $1.0 million salary to the status of Udinese coach Igor Tudor, whose club avoided relegation but went 11-17-10, finished a dissatisfying 12th in the standings.

“It’s obvious (he’s) a player we want to keep. We’re trying everything we can. The talks have already started,” said Caps manager Marc Dos Santos, who expects to have an answer to those questions long before the end of Adnan’s loan.

“(Udinese) still are questioning who’s going to be the coach, and there are some factors that we have to be a little bit patient with. Just imagine if there’s a coach that comes in and says ‘No, Ali’s going to start for me. He’s under contract.’

“I can’t go crazy with that, because if tomorrow we don’t keep him … the world’s not over. The Vancouver Whitecaps are going to be here looking for another player to fill that spot. I just don’t want to seem that it’s a desperation moment.

We want to keep him, we really like him, he likes it here, he fits in very well with the group, but because it’s not our player — he doesn’t belong to us — we have to stay calm in the process. Maybe he’s going to stay, maybe he won’t. But we’re doing everything we can.”

Photo by RICHARD LAM / THE CANADIAN PRESS

As glorious a solo effort as Adnan’s goal was, Venuto’s goal did more to get Dos Santos’s pulse pounding. It was the culmination of an 18-pass, 50-second spell of possession that included switches, crosses and patience — everything he wants in his team.