It may have taken a while to see him at his best, but Gonzalo Veron is proving to be well worth the wait for the New York Red Bulls.
A mid-season acquisition late last summer, Veron joined the club from Argentine side San Lorenzo, making him the youngest Designated Player to ever sign for the franchise.
Expectations were high for the 26-year-old, but breaking into the first team proved to be a tall task. With the Red Bulls flying high in the midst of their push for the Supporters’ Shield, head coach Jesse Marsch had little reason to tamper with an attacking setup that was firing on all cylinders.
Resigned to spot starts and contributions off the bench, Veron showed flashes of what he could bring to the table, showcasing pace and technical ability in his various appearances. But as the calendar turned over, Veron would have his chance to truly shine.
Deployed solely on the wing in 2015, Veron has now been paired with Bradley Wright-Phillips as a second forward. It’s a position that comes more naturally to the Argentine, and he’s been proving his worth over the course of the preseason.
With yet another brilliant performance on Saturday night, Veron is making his case for a starting role in 2016, and Marsch would hard pressed to keep him out of the side. Bagging a hat trick on the night, Veron has gone a long way to justifying his DP status, and looks primed to continue to contribute in a big way.
“Anytime you can put three goals on the board, it’s a good night,” midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. “His movement off the ball, his movement with the ball, the way he took care of it, the way he worked on defense; overall, you can say A-plus.”
