Los Angeles FC has itself a new Designated Player from Uruguay.
The expansion club have signed 19-year-old forward Diego Rossi to a Young Designated Player contract. He will arrive on January 1 from Penarol in his native Uruguay. The forward scored ten goals in the Uruguayan Premier Division last season while leading his team to their 51st championship in club history.
Rossi is the second youngest DP in MLS history, as only Fabian Castillo of FC Dallas was younger when he signed his deal.
“We are incredibly excited to announce the signing of Diego Rossi,” said LAFC General Manager and Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations John Thorrington. “We believe he will be a great asset on and off the field for LAFC and MLS. Diego is a player with great promise and international interest. It is another powerful statement from LAFC and our league that Diego is choosing to take the next step of his career in Los Angeles.”
He’s represented Uruguay at the U-17 and U-20 levels, scoring ten times in 39 appearances.
“Diego is a young and exciting attacking player,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “His experiences at Peñarol and his ability fit perfectly with our vision of the team we are building at LAFC. We believe Diego will mature into a top-class player.”
That ticking clock sound is really getting louder and louder if you’re a Galaxy supporter. What the hell? Are they ever going to get going on building a roster? One Norwegian defender does not come even close to solving their massive problems (“massive problems” could also be called “Giovani Dos Santos,” but why quibble over semantics?).
Meanwhile LAFC is already looking pretty tasty. Especially if they sign Kljestan.
I’m TRYING to stay true to Galaxy blue and gold. But when are they going to do something? Anything?
Dude looks like a beast in the online videos I’ve watched of him. If he stays healthy then I predict every MLS fan will know his name by the end of the 2018 season.
Suerte Guacho!
Can’t go wrong with Uruguayan gene pool! <
Just watched a compilation of his goals/assists. This kid looks and plays like Pulisic’s south american cousin. LAFC is going to set up much like Atlanta, assuming they keep old European DPs away (I’m looking at you, Wesley), and focus on hungry, skilled players.
I’m an LAG fan, but I think a strong crosstown rival will hopefully wake Galaxy executives up and make them decide to get rid of Sigi and his crew of underachievers…
For a coach that is sometimes criticized for being too defensively oriented, Bradley is apparently focussed on getting attacking players; 5 forwards so far out of 9 players signed.
Vela came before Bradley, but now Urena, Rossi, plans to acquire Kljestan, a couple fast young forwards and Gaber, a defender who likes to get forward, all point to a philosophy of attacking soccer, with an experienced pair of central defenders to cover.
The clearest need, I think now, is for a high quality defending midfielder.
looks like he is going with players that will work in a
4-3-3. days of the bunkerbob, empty bucket are ancient history.
After Lodeiro you knew more of this would happen and it continues.
One teams are winning with young S Ams.
Two, Atlanta rejected $25 million for Almiron, that used to be how much the franchise was worth.
I think it has been a VERY good thing for US soccer and obviously for guys who watch soccer here.