New York City FC: Can Alexandru Mitrita lead the way?
By Daniel Garza
As New York City FC enter 2019, they will have to adjust to life without David Villa. But have they found their goal-scoring answer in Alexandru Mitrita?
New York City FC lost their ever-reliable goalscorer David Villa as the Spanish striker moved on with his career to a new club in a new country this offseason. Now, the club must look to new avenues and new players for goals in 2019.
As expected, NYCFC have come forward with a big offer for a striker. The player they are after is Alexandru Mitrita of CS Universitatea Craiova.
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At the moment, the striker is lighting up the Romanian top flight with 12 goals in 16 appearances. He has already surpassed his league goal total from last season, in which he scored seven goals in 21 appearances.
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In 2018, Mitria made his debut with the Romania national team and went on to make three appearances in the UEFA Nations League competition.
It appears to the reports, that the fee for the 23-year-old is going to be seven figures. Transfermarkt has him listed at €3.15 million, which they state is the highest market value he has reached in his career.
Mitrita has just recently returned to Liga 1 in Romania. He played for Pescara in Serie A and Serie B before joining CS Universitatea Craiova. He made 15 appearances during the 2016/17 Serie A season which yielded one goal and three assists.
It will likely only be a matter of time until NYCFC sign a striker in the offseason. And Mitrita seems to be the most concrete player to be linked to the position so far. It makes sense with his track record in Liga 1 this year. Moreover, at only 23, Mitrita could be a vital part of the organization moving forward as he has plenty of years in his career ahead.
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NYCFC will need a player to carry them up top this season and an in-form Mitrita seems like the perfect candidate to do so. If this move does not happen, however, the question remains: Whois the next star of New York City FC?