[MLS] After Kevin Hartman, Claudio Lopez failed to reach an agreement with the Kansas City Wizards on a contract for the 2010 season. The Wizards' decision to not renew the Argentine international's contract deprives them of one of their most popular players.

Lopez was one of the few international stars to adapt well to life in MLS, and his family was happy to have settled in Kansas City.

"We would have liked to have Claudio back in 2010, but unfortunately it became clear early in the contract negotiations that we could not give him what he desired," Wizards coach Peter Vermes said. "We thank Claudio for his two years of service here in Kansas City. He was a consummate professional and set a good example for the young players on our team both on and off the field. Looking forward to 2010, we are confident in the players we have in camp and there will be great competition for starting spots before our home opener on March 27."

The Wizards also placed midfielders Kurt Morsink and Kevin Souter on waivers, and trialists Nelson Pizarro and Alex Horwath have been cut from the team's preseason roster.

Newly signed goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen is expected to join the team in Arizona next week. Nielsen will be competing for the starting goalkeeper position against Louis Crayton, Boris Pardo and Eric Kronberg, who is now under contract and has joined the team in Arizona.

The Wizards must reduce their roster to 24 players by March 1st. There are currently 30 players in camp.

Kansas City Preseason Roster
Goalkeepers:
Louis Crayton Liberia
Eric Kronberg USA
Jimmy Nielsen Denmark
Boris Pardo USA

Defenders:
Korede Aiyegbusi England
Matt Besler USA
Jimmy Conrad USA
Shahriar Dastan  Iran
Pablo Escobar Colombia
Aaron Hohlbein USA
Jonathan Leathers USA
Chance Myers USA

Midfielders:
Davy Arnaud USA
Stephane Auvray Guadeloupe
Alexei Casian Moldova
Birahim Diop Senegal
Roger Espinoza Honduras
Mauro Fuzetti USA
Michael Harrington USA
Santiago Hirsig Argentina
Jack Jewsbury USA
Igor Kostrov Moldova
Michael Kraus USA
Ryan Smith England
Lance Watson USA
Graham Zusi USA

Forwards:
Teal Bunbury Canada
Kei Kamara Sierra Leone
Josh Wolff USA
Zoltan Hercegfalvi Hungary