There’s hardly anything more exciting in an MLS offseason than your favorite team making a club-record signing. Today, LA Galaxy fans feel that euphoria as the club spent approximately $10 million on Young Designated Player, Gabriel Fortes Chaves – equal to or more than what they paid for Chicharito in 2020.
Better known as Gabriel Pec, the 22-year-old Brazilian winger can play on either side of a front three or even in the striker role if necessary. A left-footer, he prefers to operate as an inverted winger on the right where he can isolate a fullback. As you would expect from a talented Brazilian winger, Pec loves to take defenders on the dribble with a certain level of flair. He’s both effective and exciting to watch – a perfect combination for fans.
Last season at Vasco De Gama in Brazil’s top flight, Pec scored eight goals and provided four assists, indicating a propensity to attack the box on or off the ball. He’s rarely involved in the buildup but once the ball is progressed to the final third, Pec becomes a nightmare for opponents.
That style fits the Galaxy perfectly.
Boasting arguably the best midfield trio in MLS, Los Angeles doesn’t need help in the ball progression department. Instead, they need help finishing off the chances created by Riqui Puig. You can imagine Pec licking his lips at the prospect of making off-the-ball runs into the box for Puig to pick out.
Pec isn’t a selfish winger, though. Yes, he wants goals for himself, but he’s also happy to provide them. Imagine Gaston Brugman finds an outlet ball to Pec on the counterattack and Pec turns to face his defender with the intent to drive toward goal. At that moment, you’re in no man’s land as a defender.
You have to retreat knowing that Pec can beat you on the dribble but he also has the ability to cut inside for a classic curler from the top of the box, dart to the end line for a cross with his unexpectedly dangerous right foot, or cut back inside for an in-swinging cross on his favored left foot. Defenders will be on skates attempting to predict where Pec will go.
The Galaxy’s new club-record signing seems a perfect fit and shows the intention of the club under newly appointed General Manager Will Kuntz, which is to return to competing for trophies. In addition to parting ways with longtime Technical Director Jovan Kirovski and signing former MLS Cup MVP John McCarthy in free agency,
Los Angeles acquired Japanese international right-back Miki Yamane from Kawasaki Frontale in his home country to help on the defensive side of the ball. The midfield is the only area where the Galaxy aren’t heavily improving this offseason, simply because they don’t need to. Everywhere else on the pitch, the Galaxy are finally spending and they’re just getting started.
According to reports, the Galaxy made a $12.5 million club-record offer for Paraguayan winger Ramón Sosa which was rejected, another $10 million bid for Pablo Solari which was rejected, has shown interest in Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri, and is set to move for Ghanaian winger Joseph Paintsil. Crucially, this blast-from-the-past ambition the Galaxy is showing comes with intention.
Kuntz is rebuilding Los Angeles to not only be exponentially more talented up front but significantly younger as well.
Notable attacking departures for the Galaxy this offseason have included Chicharito (35), Douglas Costa (33), Billy Sharp (37), Michael Barrios (32), and Tyler Boyd (29). Compared with targets Ramón Sosa (24), Pablo Solari (22), Gabriel Pec (22), Facundo Pellistri (22), and Joseph Paintsil (25), a clear picture presents itself of the team Kuntz is looking to build around Riqui Puig (24).
So are the Galaxy officially back? They still have to prove that on the field in 2024 but every indication thus far this offseason would point to an affirmative answer to that question. Adding Gabriel Pec is a huge step in that direction.