TUKWILA, Wash. ā The paperwork is done. Victor Rodriguez is officially a member of the Seattle Sounders.
Two days after he was spotted at his first training session with Seattle at Starfire Sports Complex, the Sounders officially announced on Wednesday that they have signed the 28-year-old Spanish midfielder using Targeted Allocation Money. It is a move that Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey says will hopefully fill the second of his teamās two biggest roster needs, following last monthās signing of Dutch right back Kelvin Leerdam.
āI think the two most unsettled spots on our team the first half of the season, for better or for worse, were right back and left wing,ā Lagerwey said on Monday. āWe had guys that we thought would compete for those spots and potentially lock them down but thatās not what happened. So, what we really want for the second half of the season is stability and more consistent options.
āI think one of the spots Victor will compete for is at left wing in the line of three with [Clint] Dempsey and [Nicolas] Lodeiro. Certainly we like that heās a versatile player. We believe he can play anywhere in that band of three.ā
Rodriguez spoke with Seattle reporters through a translator for the first time following the Soundersā practice at Starfire on Wednesday, echoing Lagerweyās assessment that he could capably slot anywhere in the band of attacking midfielders in the Soundersā 4-2-3-1 formation.
āI consider myself pretty easy on the ball,ā Rodriguez said. āI like to have the ball and I believe I can bring forward a lot of assists for the team and hopefully a few goals here and there as well. Iām very familiar with all three, whether itās left, right or the middle. I feel comfortable in all of them.ā
Standing at 5-foot-7 and 154 pounds, Rodriguez said the biggest adjustment as he acclimates to his new surroundings might be the increased physicality of play in MLS. Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said on Wednesday that Seattleās video department is putting together a montage for Rodriguez of some other similarly-built MLS playmakers who have found success -- including FC Dallasā Mauro Diaz and former Real Salt Lake great Javier Morales.
For his part, Rodriguez said he feels like heās coming to Seattle at a point in his career where he can add whatever elements to his game might be necessary.
āIām a pretty small guy but Iām not shying away from tackle,ā Rodriguez said. āIf what I need to do for the team is be there and get into 50-50 tackles, thatās fine by me.
āIām 28-years-old right now,ā he added. āOn one side that says I have the experience to know where my strengths and my weaknesses lie. But at the same time, Iām young enough that I can still improve on those things. This is something where I can use both of those to better my abilities and to amount to this new challenge.ā