Gauld glad he chose Whitecaps

VANCOUVER — It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for the Vancouver Whitecaps and their latest acquisition, Scottish star Ryan Gauld.

There were complicated negotiations combined with travel woes and COVID-19 restrictions.

“It seemed like every obstacle that could come in the way happened, from not being on flights to quarantine and getting the work permit and stuff,” Gauld said. “It was a tough couple of weeks, but thankfully, everything’s taken care of now.”

Navigating those obstacles was tricky, he admitted.

“But it never entered my head that it was a sign that I was making the wrong decision,” Gauld said. “And I’ve seen since I arrived, especially here in Vancouver, that I’ve 100 per cent made the right decision.”

The club confirmed the longrumoured signing of the 25-year-old attacking midfielder Saturday, bringing him to Major League Soccer on a three-year designated player contract.

The Aberdeen native spent last season playing for Portuguese side Farnese where he tallied nine goals and seven assists in 33 games, led the team in scoring and ranked sixth in Primeira Liga in assists.

Vancouver began its pursuit of the creative playmaker — dubbed “McMessi” by some — in January.

The ‘Caps have long been searching for a player who could link the back end with the attack and, in Gauld, saw an athlete who would provide a lasting impact, sporting director Axel Schuster said.

“We were looking not for a signing that helps us only for a few games, we were not looking for a player that maybe helps us to get a few more points in those games that we have been close,” he said. “We were looking for the player that helps us to make the next step.”

After coming up through Dundee United’s youth system and a stint at Sporting Lisbon, Gauld chose to jump to MLS based on his conversations with Schuster and ‘Caps head coach Marc Dos Santos.

“I’ve never been one to make my decisions over money. I’ve always thought there’s more to a career and more to life than money,” he said. “What it was, was the confidence that everyone at the club that I’d spoke to showed and how much they wanted me, what they thought I could do here, what I could bring to the club.”

Vancouver will face a tough test on Sunday when it takes on the Galaxy (9-6-1) in L.A.

“We don’t want him to come here with the pressure with being a kind of a saviour,” the head coach said.

“Because that doesn’t exist in soccer.”