Minnesota United: Darwin Quintero rescue well worth overdue DP slot

After weeks of speculation, Minnesota United have finally signed Colombian attacker Darwin Quintero from Club América. What does this mean for the team?

It may have taken them three transfer windows, but Minnesota United have finally signed their first Designated Player in Darwin Quintero.

According to Paul Tenorio, Quintero was brought to Minnesota on a $1.5M/yr. salary, and after a transfer fee of just $200k, which is an absolute steal for Minnesota United brass. Club América fans wanted Quintero gone, but even they didn’t expect Club América to practically give him away.

This fact alone makes bringing Quintero in well worth the risk, even if he ends up under-performing. The 30 year-old Colombian has been out of favor at Club América for a while, but has the ability to be one of the best players in MLS on his day. So, what does Darwin Quintero bring to Minnesota United?

For starters, Quintero brings technical ability and creativity to a side that desperately needs it. The Loons oftentimes can get in to the attacking third with relative ease, but they will struggle to connect on that final pass that would put an attacker through on goal.

This, combined with Quintero’s impressive pace, should help to break down opposing defenses in a way that Minnesota United has not seen in MLS so far. Quintero is also very versatile, and can play anywhere along the front four. So, with so much versatility and positional flexibility, where will Darwin Quintero play for Minnesota United?

The most likely position for Quintero, at least right away, seems to be attacking midfielder. After Kevin Molino’s ACL tear against Orlando City, Minnesota have struggled without a fast, dynamic attacker pulling the strings in midfield.

Miguel Ibarra has done a serviceable job as a 10 in Molino’s absence, but Quintero is on another level from Ibarra as a player, and could finally be that creative force that Minnesota United have been looking for. Though the #10 role isn’t Quintero’s preferred role per se, he has played there a number of times for Club América, and it would probably be best for the team if Quintero played there for Minnesota United.

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Quintero’s main position has been on the wing, but most of Minnesota’s chances this season have been created by Ethan Finlay and Sam Nicholson on the wings, who have both been in great form. You don’t want to get in the middle of something like that, and you want as much talent on the pitch as possible, so Quintero will likely only play on the wing in the event of an injury to Nicholson or Finlay.

Quintero’s pace, along with the pace of Nicholson and Finlay, if all three are on the pitch together, would terrorize MLS defenses on the break. All three have impressive technical ability as well, so the three of them together could be something special.

Another possibility is up top as a striker, but that also poses issues. Striker is probably Minnesota’s deepest position with Christian Ramirez, Abu Danladi, and exciting rookie Mason Toye all playing there.

Though Quintero could very well be an upgrade to any of the three, increasing the already existing logjam at the position would not be the best use of Quintero’s talent, or the best way for Minnesota to get the most possible talent on the pitch. So, attacking midfielder seems like Quintero’s most likely position, but versatility never hurts, and the Colombian certainly has plenty of that.

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It will be very interesting to see where Quintero plays in Minnesota, and how he performs for the club. Will a change of scenery help him return to top form? Where do you think Quintero will play? Comment below!

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