The MLS SuperDraft was wild, so rather than attempt to break it down in its entirety (check here for the full draft tracker), here’s our list of the five most exciting and weird moves the day had to offer:
This is only tangentially related to the draft, but ESPN.com.mx reported yesterday that the Rapids and Pulido’s current club, Greek side Olympiacos, are very close to agreeing on a one-year loan deal that would bring the Mexican international to the U.S.
Yep, the Rapids were wheeling and dealing with movements that we thought were weird AF while watching the livestream. They traded down and acquired the No. 1 allocation spot in a transaction with the Chicago Fire that also included the 12th and 15th overall picks, moves that make sense in preparation for the potential arrival of USMNT midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, who is currently playing at FC Nantes. Although Bedoya’s move is looking less likely by the minute (he would enter the MLS via allocation), it appears to have played a big role in the Rapids’ draft actions.
Despite having their Homegrown Player claim declined, NYCFC got it done and brought Jack Harrison, a former Manchester United youth player and arguably the best attacking player that the draft had to offer, to Yankee Stadium. Claudio Reyna (now working as the club’s director of soccer operations) told MLSSoccer.com, “We were going after Jack. It was pretty obvious to us internally who our priority No. 1 was. At the same time, he was wanted by other teams.” From freshman at Wake Forest University to David Villa’s teammate at NYCFC. Wow. ?
Former Colombian national team player and current FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja is a legend (one time, he even played in a match vs. Pablo Escobar held at the drug lord’s private prison), so while this draft pick may seem odd given the fact that Dallas already has young goalkeeping phenom Jesse González, we trust his judgment. If anyone knows young talent, it’s Pareja. He’s been doing incredible things with the Dallas youth system, so Ryan Herman, a Sounders academy product himself, must be in a solid position to fight for a spot.
Rodrigo Saravia was the only Latino dude selected in the first round of the draft. He’s a rockstar defensive midfielder who already has caps with the Guatemalan national team at age 22. “I like the way they play, he said upon hearing that he would join the Crew. “That’s my style. They explained it to me a couple of days ago, and they convinced me with that. They like to keep the ball. They don’t like to throw it away.”