Coach optimistic Torres can ‘make a difference’

Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja wants incoming player Facundo Torres to hit the ground running, but he remains wary about the player needing time to adapt.

“First he’s very technical, I think fans will see a player who has a lot of creativity,” said Pareja during Tuesday’s media availability at Osceola Heritage Park. “His fitness and his generosity with the team are remarkable, too. He’s a first-team player who can contribute his individual attributes to make a difference, and I hope that things come quickly. Any player needs some period of adaptation and we will have to be patient with it, but I think he’s already had important scenarios in his career that can help speed these things up.”

Torres officially signed with the Lions last Friday after Orlando paid a club-record $7.5 million transfer fee to Uruguayan club Peñarol. Orlando also paid $1.5 million in bonuses for 100% of the player’s rights, a person with knowledge of the information told the Orlando Sentinel.

The Lions aren’t expecting Torres and fellow Uruguayan midfielder César Araújo to join Orlando until after the FIFA international window, which runs through Feb. 1. The duo also is awaiting their visas prior to arriving, a club spokesperson said.

Orlando, however, has been linked with more player signings with winger Gaston Gonzalez reportedly joining the Lions in May from Union de Sante Fe.

Transfermarkt’s Manuel Veth reported over the weekend that Austrian forward Ercan Kara will sign as Orlando’s second Designated Player this season. A person with knowledge of the situation

confirmed the move Tuesday with the Orlando Sentinel.

Also on Tuesday, Pareja chimed in about the team’s active transfer window.

“We’re growing without a doubt with the way the squad is coming together,” Pareja said. “I believe the typical Orlando City fan understands it well, and it’s about signing well. I don’t believe the best team is the one that signs expensive players. I’s the team that signs the right players. We want to be more assertive with the arrival of players instead of having to rush to sign players just to fill spaces in the squad.”

Team leadership: With the club captaincy vacant heading into the 2022 regular season, Pareja confirmed that Mauricio Pereyra will play a big role with leadership this season.

“No doubt that [Mauricio] will be part of that group,” said Pareja. “We’ve always had a smaller group of players who lead the group. It’s not just one captain and the one who wears the armband in the game, but it’s a group within the group that will lead them.”

Pereyra signed a 1-year contract last month after his previous deal expired to end last season.

Pareja said a group of five players will continue leading the squad on the field, which includes Pereyra, Junior Urso, Pedro Gallese and Alexandre Pato.

Corner kicks: Antonio Carlos

still hasn’t reported to preseason training, Pareja confirmed on Tuesday.

The Brazilian centerback is still in the process of renewing his visa, but Pareja believes the 28-year-old will rejoin the club before the Feb. 27 opener against Montreal.

Homegrown players, right back Michael Halliday and centerback Thomas Williams, are training with the United States U-20 national team after being called up for January training camp in Bradenton.

Last year’s No. 22 overall pick out of Penn State, Brandon Hackenberg, is training with Orlando during this preseason camp.

The 24-year-old centerback was selected by the Lions during the 2021 MLS SuperDraft but never signed with Orlando and instead continued with the Nittany Lions to finish his senior year.

Orlando still holds his rights, thus his return to preseason camp.

A slew of academy players continues training with the Lions, including attacking midfielder Gonzalo Agustoni-Chagas, who’s assigned to the team’s U-23 squad.

Left back Alex Freeman, who won theMLSNextU-17titlelastyear,also is training with the first team.

Current Orlando City B players, winger Moises Tablante and goalkeeper Javier Otero, continue training with the first team as well.

The Lions also announced that they traded $200,000 in general allocation money and a thirdround pick in the 2023 draft to CF Montreal in exchange for an international roster slot.