New Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez has insisted his move to Major League Soccer can be a optimistic step for his profession.
The Colombia worldwide arrived in Columbus on a record-breaking deal as a Designated Player just lately, filling a place of want following the Crew’s sale of Gyasi Zardes to the Colorado Rapids just lately.
Hernandez joins contemporary from scoring 5 objectives in 25 Premier League appearances (11 begins) for Watford in the course of the 2021/22 marketing campaign, although he could not cease the Hornets struggling relegation.
The 23-year-old has additional pedigree having scored repeatedly within the prime two tiers of Spanish soccer with the likes of Huesca, Getafe, and Mallorca.
Hernandez’s resolution is prone to be questioned by some who imagine he is made the fallacious alternative coming to MLS at this stage of his profession.
But the league has proved up to now it may be a place for development and, in some circumstances, rebirth. Hernandez is happy to indicate what he can do at Lower.com Field.
“I don’t think it’s a step back,” he said through a club interpreter. “I think MLS is growing a lot. Stadiums, training facilities, players coming here are all top. I think it’s a very competitive league. I want to do the best job that I can and score a lot of goals, which is what people expect from me.”
Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko believes Hernandez’s talent, stature, and young age combine to place him among the biggest signings MLS has seen, even if his name is quite as big as some of the veteran superstars that have come before.
“I put this (signing) right up there with them, maybe even higher, because he’s a young player who’s entering the prime of his career, he’s played and seen what it’s like to play in the top leagues in the world, and yet he’s choosing MLS because he believes that’s the best place for him and his career, and where he can shine and be the guy and score the goals,” Bezbatchenko said.
“It’s actually thrilling as a result of I’m not certain it is occurred earlier than on this means (in MLS). I believe it is actually emblematic of the place this membership is and the place the league is.”
Head coach Caleb Porter agrees, including: “It’s a massive signing for our club. When you look at his profile, his age, his recent form, it’s a massive signing for the league as well,
“To get a younger South American who’s 23 years outdated, who’s confirmed himself in two of the highest leagues on the planet — we really feel like he is simply starting, as properly, by way of his profession. He’s in his prime, and we really feel like he’ll have his finest years of his profession right here.”
Hernandez joins a Columbus Crew aspect sitting ninth within the Eastern Conference, three factors off an MLS Cup Playoff spot forward of internet hosting the Philadelphia Union on Sunday.