Venezuelan Sosa adds to depth at midfielder
Central attacking midfielder has been a position of interest for Crew SC since the team began its offseason plans.
With late-summer uncertainty around Federico Higuain’s return to the team after the 2017 season, Crew coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter and his staff pondered whether they would need an opening-day starter at the position or a young player to grow into the role.
The Crew retained Higuain, the team’s 2017 MVP, in October by signing him to a one-year extension. On Tuesday, the club secured added depth at the position, announcing it has acquired 21-year-old Venezuelan Eduardo Sosa, formerly of Zamora of the Venezuelan Primera Division.
“As that picture became more clear, our target became more clear and Eduardo fits perfectly into that second category,” Berhalter said.
Sosa will be added to the Crew’s roster pending receipt of his international transfer certificate and P-1 visa. He will occupy an international roster slot.
Sosa has made 48 league appearances for Zamora primarily as a central attacking midfielder, including 34 appearances — 27 starts — for Zamora in league play 2017. He made another seven appearances in the 2017 Copa Venezuela, in which Zamora fell 5-4 to Mineros in the two-leg final round.
Berhalter said Sosa also can play left and right wing. Where he fits best is to be determined.
“We can slot him in now, we’re projecting, at all three of the positions,” Berhalter said. “I’m pretty sure as we go throughout the time working with him he’ll start defining how he’s going to fit and how he’s going to help the team. He’s a smart player, he’s a good player, he’s technically very good and I think he’s gonna be able to make a difference on our team.”
Sosa, who scored six goals in league play in 2017, adds to Crew SC’s attacking midfield depth, which includes young wingers Niko Hansen and Cristian Martinez, starting right winger Pedro Santos and starting left winger Justin Meram, who along with starting forward Ola Kamara has reportedly asked to be transferred or traded. The Crew also added last month a veteran attacking midfielder in Mike Grella, who Berhalter said can play either left wing or central attacking midfielder.
The Crew will look to add an additional attacking player as well as a fullback over the remainder of the offseason, Berhalter said.
Sosa’s transition from Venezuelan to American soccer will be a difficult one, both in the physicality and speed, and the language barrier and cultural adjustments, but Berhalter said he believes Sosa is ready to embrace those changes.
“Talking to the player and getting a sense of his mind-set, he’s completely ready for this challenge,” he said. “A lot of it has to do with the mind-set of the player and so far it seems like he’s in a great spot to accomplish this.”