Juan Agudelo and Diego Fagundez led the Revolution’s attack in 2013. Will it be the same in 2015? Photo/Italo Alexander Photography
By Julian Cardillo
Just when we thought the Revolution would come out of the off-season empty-handed and begin preseason without a new, key player, a ball dropped hinting that forward Juan Agudelo is nearing a deal that will bring him back to Foxboro in 2015.
That news took a rumor from the Superdaft—that the Revolution would trade Agudelo’s rights away to another MLS team for higher selection—and flipped it on its head.
Agudelo has a story fit for a nomad: discovered originally by the New York Red Bulls as a homegrown player before being shipped off to Chivas USA. The Revolution traded for him in 2013, around the time his international stock was rising from scoring timely goals for the U.S. national team against South Africa and Argentina. He was a key player for the Revolution, helping turning around a season that was mired by a gun-shy attack, but opted to sign a deal with England’s Stoke City to play in the Premier League in 2014.
Though the deal to the Premier League was approved, Agudelo’s work permit was denied due to immigration issues and he was forced to go on loan to Dutch outfit FC Utrecht. In the meantime, the Revolution offered him a new contract which Agudelo called “unflattering” but kept his rights in New England.
Agudelo hasn’t suited up since last spring. He trained with Orlando City SC this summer, but is currently a free agent. Enter the Revolution, who own his rights.
The potential return of Agudeto gives the Revolution another tool in their multidimensional attack. His hold-up play is better than that of Patrick Mullins, who the Revolution lost in the expansion draft to New York City FC. But what’s more, Agudelo’s dynamic, slick and easy-on-the-eyes skill on the ball draws defenders toward him and away from other players. That was key for the Revolution in 2013, as Diego Fagundez would be free and clear on goal with an Agudelo partnership.
Agudelo, the wingman (in Top Gun terms, not field position), drew defenders away from Fagundez. Then Fagundez (Maverick, if you will), made the most of his inch of space and went to goal.
Fagundez missed having a player of Agudelo’s class last season. He notched just five goals and four assists in 2014, as opposed to 13 goals and seven assists alongside Agudelo in 2013.
Head Coach Jay Heaps will now have two hard to defend tactics in the offense: the speedy play and incessant chance creation from Charlie Davies, Lee Nguyen and Teal Bunbury as well as the gotcha, fun-to-watch masterwork of Fagundez and Agudelo.
This deal likely comes at a high price, though. Agudelo was linked to German clubs 1860 Munich and Wolfsburg. His stock has gone up considerably since he first joined the Revolution via intra-league trade in the spring of 2013, even if he hasn’t played in a while. He’s a known quantity, but unfortunately for him the beaureaucratic paperwork process hasn’t gone in his favor.
There is a good chance Agudelo’s contract will have to be sewn up by making him a designated player (he also told Sports Illustrated that he wasn’t satisfied with the Revolution’s contract offer last year). The Revolution would have to purchase another DP slot, or take Jerry Bengston off the books. Either that, or Agudelo eats up a significant chunk of the salary cap.
