By FRANCO PANIZO
Jason Kreis sure isn’t being shy about tapping into Real Salt Lake’s roster to build his in New York City.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported late on Thursday that New York City FC have finalized a deal with Real Salt Lake that will see the expansion club receive Sebastian Velasquez in exchange for allocation money. New RSL technical director Craig Waibel confirmed the deal to the Salt Lake outlet, and a formal announcement is expected soon.
“It comes at a point where we feel that, as a club, it’s a good time for Sebastian to go on and experience a bit more of a role within the day-to-day performance of the team,” Waibel said. “Last year wasn’t great for him in terms of minutes played, although he’s super talented.”
Velasquez, who started just one game for Salt Lake in 2014, is now the fifth player at NYC FC to have previously played under Kreis at RSL. The 23-year-old midfielder joins goalkeeper Josh Saunders, defenders Chris Wingert and Kwame Watson-Siriboe, and midfielder Ned Grabavoy as former RSL players on New York City’s roster.
What do you think of NYC FC trading for Velasquez? Will he have a significant role for the expansion club in 2015? Already coming up with RSL nicknames for Kreis’s squad?
Share your thoughts below.
Brook Ave, terrible area. But I would love Bronx stadium.
Del griffin got owned
NYCFC just traded for Salt Lakes stadium
They are having it delivered to Brooke Ave tomorrow
lmao
NYCFC should be nicknamed RSL-East
Know this guy from his days back in Greenville, SC…actually coached his cousin in school ball a couple years back.
Very small – maybe 5’5″ or 5’6″ – but he’s very slick, got some unusual technical ability for an American player (though he’s Colombian by birth, if memory serves.) RSL had him out on the wing but I wonder if he’s ultimately better in the hole as a false nine or CAM. Guy is a rare finisher; I well-remember him icing LA Galaxy in the semis a couple years back. What’s kinda weird is that he was behind Grababoy at RSL…hopefully they did not trade for him just to put him behind Grabovoy again.
Thanks for the info. LOVE watching velasquez play. Figured he would slip through the draft due to the proven quality that RSL left unprotected, but this is an interesting move by Kreis.
Try again, 5’11”
Try again, I know the guy.
This was him about a year ago with my son’s U12 team…11-year-olds. That would be my son right beside him on the left. (Who had just turned 12 himself.)
I’ll give you 5’8″ or 5’9″ with real tall boots.
http://www.mylittlegreenkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/nitro-U12s.jpg
Kress has the better of the deal to be sure. Shrewd…extremely shrewd.