Real Salt Lake signs Diogo Gonçalves to revolutionize attack ahead of MLS playoffs

Real Salt Lake are not messing around and have taken advantage of the transfer window to announce a new signing for the remainder of the MLS season. The board decided to go for Diogo Gonçalves, who has experience of European soccer. The 27-year-old Portuguese, who has played for giants such as Benfica and was previously with FC Copenhagen, arrives with the mission of injecting even more quality into an attack that is already the most productive in the Western Conference. Now, the big question that remains is: is Diogo the reinforcement that was needed to lead RSL to MLS Cup glory?

Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).

The signing of Diogo Gonçalves for around 3 million dollars. We're talking about a player who has accumulated experience in the UEFA Champions League. With 58 goals and 44 assists in 306 matches in Portugal and Denmark. What's more, he doesn't come as just another member of the squad, but as a Designated Player, in other words, someone the club has high hopes for.

Real Salt Lake's director of soccer, Kurt Schmid, got straight to the point when talking about Diogo's arrival: "We are very happy to add another very technical, aggressive and versatile striker to our line-up." With that statement, it's clear that the club expects the Portuguese striker not only to fit into the team quickly, but to be one of the protagonists in the final stretch of the season.

It's interesting to note how Diogo Gonçalves' arrival aligns with RSL's strategy of having a lethal attack. With Cristian Arango leading the team's scoring charts, Diego Luna showing all his promising talent, and Andrés Gómez emerging as one of the breakthrough stars of the season, Diogo has everything it takes to be the perfect complement. The sum of RSL's offensive pieces, now with the addition of Gonçalves, could transform this team on the offensive end.

The MLS itself has become increasingly attractive to high-caliber players. The league's growth, both in terms of quality and international visibility, has not gone unnoticed. And the Portuguese player recognizes this: "The growth of Major League Soccer is something great - this league has everything to take the next steps," he said on signing with Real Salt Lake. It's not just a strategic move by the club, but also a calculated choice on the part of the player, who sees the MLS as an opportunity to continue growing and impacting soccer in a significant way.

Real Salt Lake, who have already scored 51 goals this season, have no intention of slowing down. On the contrary, Diogo's arrival seems to be the finishing touch to an attack that is already working like a well-oiled cog. The team, which is in third place in the Western Conference, is in a privileged position for the playoffs. And it's exactly at this decisive moment that Diogo Gonçalves' experience and quality could make all the difference.

Of course, this all depends on how the Portuguese player adapts to the pace of the MLS and Real Salt Lake's style of play. Although he has shown himself to be a technically versatile player in Europe, the MLS has its own peculiarities. Adapting to North American soccer, with its long journeys and physical intensity, will be a test for Diogo. However, if he manages to settle in quickly, RSL will have a real secret weapon in their hands for the playoffs.

The next step for Real Salt Lake is to show on the pitch that all this preparation and investment, including the signing of Diogo Gonçalves, will translate into success. The first opportunity to do so will be on their return to the MLS, on August 24, against the San Jose Earthquakes. All eyes will be on Diogo, hoping that he'll be able to show his mettle straight away.