Minnesota United: What does Alexi Gomez offer?

After several weeks of rumors and speculation, Minnesota United have finally added versatile Peruvian international Alexi Gómez. But what does he offer the Loons?

Two weeks after signing Colombian international attacker Darwin Quintero, Minnesota United have signed another South American. This time it’s Peruvian international Alexi Gómez.

The 25-year-old is yet another addition to a suddenly rising number of Peruvian internationals in Major League Soccer over the last couple of transfer windows. He comes to the Loons on a loan until the end of the MLS season with an option to buy clause included.

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Gómez comes to Minnesota from Peruvian giants Universitario after he recently had his loan ended by Liga MX side Club Atlas when he was caught playing street soccer just two days before a match. A very versatile player, Gómez can play as a winger, a left back, or central midfielder. This versatility will be huge for Minnesota United, as he can provide cover at multiple positions for a pretty thin roster. Gómez should mainly play as a left back, though, because left winger Sam Nicholson has been in great form to start the season and the Loons could really use another starting quality full back. This is even more likely given the fact that United have listed Gómez as a defender/midfielder, meaning that the club envisions him spending some time at left back.

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Look for Swiss full back Jérôme Thiesson to switch back over to right back (he’s been playing on the left, but played on the right last season) if Gómez is on the left, thus relegating 35-year-old Englishman Tyrone Mears to a depth role, with fellow MLS veteran Marc Burch providing depth at left back and rookie MLS SuperDraft pick Carter Manley also providing cover at right back along with Mears. Consequently, what was once Minnesota United’s thinnest position group by far would actually have some legitimate depth for the first time in MLS.

Along with a lot of versatility, Gómez brings plenty of other things to Minnesota as well. Minnesota United certainly doesn’t lack pace, but Gómez brings even more. He also offers good technical ability, some solid passing, and some dead-ball quality as well. The set-piece ability he brings with him should make Tyrone Mears even more likely to move to the bench, as Mears was Minnesota’s set-piece specialist prior to Gomez’s arrival.

Gómez certainly has the talent to be a very solid MLS player. The only thing that Minnesota United should be wary of is the player’s’ apparent attitude issues. Even just beside the incident with Club Atlas over the street soccer incident, it was supposedly Gómez’s attitude issues that also prematurely ended his short stints in the Chilean and Swedish leagues. If Gómez can get comfortable in Minnesota and let his talent speak for itself, however, he would be a welcome addition to a Minnesota United side that has aspirations of their first playoff appearance in MLS.

Next: Minnesota United sign Darwin Quintero

So, just how well will Alexi Gómez fit in? Can he put his past attitude issues behind him and succeed in Major League Soccer? This is a very interesting acquisition and it could prove to be a very good one if Gómez does what he is capable of. But be wary if things turn sour.