CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Argentine midfielders have built an impressive track record in MLS in recent years.
Will new Colorado Rapids midfielder Lucas Pittinari be the next player from Argentina to make a strong impact in the league?
The rebuilding Rapids certainly hope so, as they seek to put a disappointing 2014 season behind them, and Pittinari’s addition could help solidify the center of the park.
Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni said he’s “excited to have him on board,” but noted that Pittinari would get some time to get accustomed to tha e new league and new country.
“There’s always an acclimation phase coming into Major League Soccer, regardless of what league you come from in different parts of the world,” Mastroeni told MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday following preseason training in San Diego. “There’s adjusting to the lifestyle, adjusting to the style of play. I’ve been very pleased at his ability to assimilate on the field.”
Pittinari, who joined the Rapids last week to finalize his one-year loan from Argentine side Belgrano, said that the process of adjusting to his new surroundings has been helped by some of his Spanish-speaking teammates.
“I have joined the team, feel confident, joined up with a few Hispanic players, and feel at home,” he said through a team translator after Wednesday’s training session.
Although other Argentine players around the league, such as Portland Timbers playmaker Diego Valeri, have previously talked about chatting with compatriots about possible moves to MLS, Pittinari said he did not speak with any players before making the move. He did, however, emphasize the growing reputation of MLS in South America.
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“I’m a young player, I understand there’s a chance to have a longer career here,” Pittinari explained. “And over the course of the year I’ll be able to notice whether this is a permanent fit. Of course I’m on loan here for one year, but I’m confident that with the staff and professionalism that I’ve seen thus far, I have no doubt it could become a long-term deal.”
So will Pittinari be a fixture for the Rapids’ lineup for seasons to come? It’s too early to say for certain, of course, but player and coach alike are upbeat about the potential the 23-year-old possesses.
“[He’s] a very steady player, that has tremendous upside for his career,” Mastroeni said. “And he’s a guy that I think will find his way into the group, will find his way onto the field, just because his performances continue to be steady. [He’s] a guy that from a coaching perspective is great, because you know what you’re going to get every day, and I think the more of those guys you have on the field, the easier it is to make selections and hopefully the better the team will be.”
