Nashville SC bring in Benfica striker to lead the way offensively
By Daniel Garza
Nashville SC have signed SL Benfica striker Jhonder Cadiz on a loan.
The third Designated Player for Nashville SC has been acquired. Jhonder Cadiz of SL Benfica will join the first-year team on loan with an option to buy. The 25-year-old striker will remain with Nashville until June 30, 2021, and then from there, they can sign him to a long-term deal if they chose to do so.
Cadiz has been a member of Benfica since the summer of 2019 when he joined from Vitoria Setubal. Previously, the Venezuelan striker had featured for clubs in both Venezuela and Portugal. He scored seven goals in 10 appearances for Monagas during the 2018 Torneo Apertura and nine goals in 31 appearances in the 2018/19 Liga Nos season for Vitoria Setubal.
An appearance for Benfica has yet to come for Cadiz. He was on loan at Dijon in France’s Ligue 1 last season. During the 2019/20 campaign, he finished with three goals and three assists in 22 appearances in all competitions for Dijon.
Nashville SC needs goals
Nashville have scored the fewest goals of the 2020 MLS season so far. They have registered just five goals in nine matches. As a result, they needed to sign a striker who is capable of providing a source of consistent offensive production. Cadiz appears to be the player who can do just that.
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David Accam has been the only listed forward on Nashville’s roster to register a goal this season in MLS. There is a clear need for a player to come in and capitalize on opportunities to score. With the club within reach of qualifying for the playoffs, a consistent goal scorer can only increase their chances of making a postseason appearance in their first year in MLS.
While his recent loan at Dijon may have not yielded eye-catching numbers, his previous appearances for Monagas in Venezuela and Vitoria Setubal in Portugal display he can deliver goals. Last year in Ligue 1 was his first season in a top-five European league which might have been the reason he struggled to find the back of the net.
One of the best highlights from his time with Dijon was a goal he scored against Paris Saint-Germain during a Ligue 1 match against the French champions. He made a terrific run into the box and dribbled his way to a great goal against one of the world’s top clubs.
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Nashville might have just signed a great long term player for the club’s offensive future. Cadiz has recent experience playing in one of Europe’s top leagues and has shown in the past he can be consistent in his goal scoring. Keep an eye on this player during his time in MLS as he could emerge as one of the top strikers in the league.