Josué Colmán admits he didn’t ask to wear No. 10.
“They gave me the number,” said City’s newest Designated Player. “It’s a privilege to use the No. 10 of Orlando, which was worn by one of the greatest footballers in history.”
Of course, it was Kaká who wore No. 10 for the Lions. For three years, Kaká captained City through nearly every memory and milestone of the still nascent Club.
But where there was once a soccer legend is now a fresh-faced teenager. The hope is not that he will replace Kaká, just that he’ll keep doing what he did in Paraguay, and that he’ll keep getting better at it.
“The coaching staff is extremely happy to have been able to add him,” Kreis said. “We need to say a big, big thanks to [Club owner Flávio Augusto Da Silva] for putting forth the requisite resources to sign a player like that.”
Colmán also admitted he hadn’t spoken with his numerical predecessor since joining City.
“I wish,” Colmán said with a chuckle.
Unfinished business
Preseason training officially started Monday, but offseason business remains unfinished.
The Lions took the pitch with some holes on the depth chart. There are just two center backs on the roster, but there were a few more out there today.
Namely, Chris Schuler.
“Obviously the coaching staff has a very high level of familiarity and comfort with Chris Schuler after working with him for several years at Real Salt Lake,” Jason Kreis said. “We are having him in to see what he looks like, both from a fitness and health perspective but also in terms of how does he fit into the group.”
Schuler played for Kreis at RSL from 2010 to 2013. The 30-year-old has scored seven goals in 97 starts among 107 regular and postseason MLS appearances.
Also missing from Day 1 was defender Mohamed El-Munir. His absence is sure to be short lived, though.
“As is the case for many, many of our international players that we bring in, we always run into one hiccup or another with the visa process,” Kreis said. “But he is expected, actually this afternoon.”
