5 First-Year MLS Players Who Could Have a Big Season

  1. Francisco Calvo has a chance to turn in a big season.

    Francisco Calvo, CB, Minnesota United- Back in December, expansion side Minnesota United acquired Costa Rican international Centerback Francisco Calvo from Deportivo Saprissa. The athletic Defender could be poised for a big year in Minnesota and looked impressive in Minnesota’s preseason match against the Whitecaps on Thursday. Calvo scored an eye-opening 14 goals in 63 matches as a Defender for Saprissa and showed an impressive ability to score on set pieces, as well as being defensively solid.

  2. Miguel Almirón, CAM, Atlanta United– Also in December, fellow expansion side Atlanta United acquired Paraguayan playmaker Miguel Almirón from Argentine club Lanus for an $8 million transfer fee. A technically skilled, creative midfielder, Almirón is a big reason why expectations are so high for Atlanta United this season. The Paraguayan international featured for his country during last summer’s Copa America, which was held in the U.S., and may have put him on the radar of the Atlanta United brass.
  3. Gerso Fernandes, LW, Sporting Kansas City– SKC fans were begging their front office to sign a DP winger this offseason, and the SKC front office responded with the signing of Gerso Fernandes. The speedy winger from Guinea-Bissau has spent the last 5 seasons starting in the Portuguese Primiera Liga with several different clubs and could be just what SKC needs to make an MLS Cup push this season. A player who possesses blistering pace and solid technical ability, SKC should be able to count on Fernandes as a player who could stretch the field and make plays out wide.
  4. Nemanja Nikolic, ST, Chicago Fire- The Hungarian striker has plenty of top-flight experience, scoring goals for fun in the Polish League with Legia Warsaw the last 2 seasons, after doing the same in the Hungarian League for the 8 seasons prior. The Hungarian international was a big signing for the Fire and is expected to be a big contributor from day one.
  5. Romain Alessandrini, Winger, LA Galaxy- The pacey and technical French winger was a big offseason acquisition for the Galaxy and should combine nicely with Giovanni Dos Santos. Struggling with injuries at previous club Marseille, Alessandrini is healthy again and ready to contribute as the Galaxy hope to win their 6th MLS Cup. Should he stay healthy, Alessandrini could very well be one of the league’s best player’s.

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