CARSON, Calif. – João Pedro is fitting in just fine in his first week with the LA Galaxy.
Pedro signed with the Galaxy earlier this month to bolster the midfield under new head coach Curt Onalfo. The 23-year-old Portuguese midfielder arrived in Los Angeles last week after spending the entirety of his career in the system at Vitória Guimarães.
Although the move was sending Pedro from his hometown club just as he began to latch onto the first team, the chance to come to the Galaxy was too great of an opportunity for the midfielder.
“This is a great opportunity for me to come to America to a growing league,” Pedro explained to LA Galaxy Insider. “It’s a league with good players, and it’s very good for me to make the move. In soccer, you have to take advantage of your opportunities. That’s what happened.”
A defensive midfielder, Pedro figures to be the natural foil to another Galaxy midfield signing, Jermaine Jones, who was brought in a week before his addition. With the Galaxy seeking to inject new blood into the midfield after the departures of Steven Gerrard and Jeff Larentowicz, the addition of the tenacious Pedro was a no-brainer for Onalfo.
“He brings tenacity. He’s a very good midfielder who can play in the No. 6 role and the No. 8 role,” Onalfo said. “He’s a very good passer of the ball, he’s a strong physical presence, and he’s got a very good technical understanding. He’s a player with a very bright future.
Perhaps what has impressed Onalfo more than his on the field abilities, however, has been his quick adaption process to his new squad. Although Pedro’s assimilation to the unique rigors of MLS will take some time, his new head believes that he’s off to a fast start.
“He has a great way about him. You can tell that he’s happy and he’s enjoying be part of the team,” Onalfo said. “We look forward to incorporating him as soon as possible. However, whenever you bring in a player from abroad, it takes time to adapt.”
With a full season still ahead, the Galaxy’s newest midfielder is eager to start his new adventure.
“It’s a great country and a great city. I’m very excited to start to play with the team,” Pedro said. “It’s a very good team and I love the way that I’ve been received. I’m very excited for the season.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atLAGalaxy.com/insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
