Seattle Sounders add a rising Brazilian star to already stacked roster
Seattle Sounders improved one of the best squads in MLS
Having been at the top or near the top of the MLS table for the entirety of this season, the Seattle Sounders made two late additions to their roster on Thursday. An international signing in Brazilian attacker Léo Chú and a trade within MLS help bolster an already deep squad.
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The headliner from Thursday’s flurry of moves was Léo Chú, a 21-year old midfielder who has 26 appearances in Brazil’s Serie A with Gremio and Cerea. A fluid attacker, he can play on either wing but is largely considered a left-sided player.
The Sounders also added Nicolas Benzet in a trade with the Colorado Rapids. The 30-year old midfielder has 31 appearances and 11 starts since signing with the Mile-High club in 2019.
The moves help complete a roster that is deep, talented and boasts some strong personality on the field.
“In Léo’s case, we were able to utilize the league’s new under-22 player initiative, and he is a player that was high on our list in this regard. His speed and versatility make him an intriguing option for our club, and like any young player, we are looking forward to integrating him into the organization and giving him the tools to succeed,” Sounders sporting director Garth Lagerway said in a statement released by the club.
“Nicolas is a veteran and knows our league well from his time in Colorado and Toronto. We believe he can support multiple positions, and as we’ve seen many times already this season, having depth at several spots is critical. We’d like to officially welcome Nicolas and Léo to Seattle and we look forward to getting them up to speed in the coming days.”
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Benzet was acquired utilizing $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) with another $50,000 pending certain performances reached.
The flurry of moves sees the Sounders seeking to head in the right direction. After a hot start to the season that saw them top the table and set the MLS record for most points earned in the first 13 games of league action, the Sounders have hit a bit of a bump.
Injuries and international call-ups have hurt the squad with the club third in MLS and second in the Western Conference with a 9-3-6 record and 33 points. They have one tie and two losses in their last three matches.
On Wednesday night there was more good news as the Seattle Sounders saw Nicolas Lodeiro make a couple minute cameo in a 1-1 result with FC Dallas. It was the star midfielder’s first game action since May 2.