The New England Revolution became the 15th MLS team to utilize the Designated Player Rule when they announced the signing of 22-year-old Argentinian Milton Caraglio on Tuesday. The signing leaves the Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA and Philadelphia Union as the only MLS teams to have never signed a DP. There are now a record 22 DPs in the league, playing on 12 different teams.
New England Revolution Sign Milton Caraglio As First-Ever Designated Player
“He’s an exciting player,” Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said in a team release. “He has a good touch and likes to get forward. We’re looking for Milton to get involved in our goal-scoring, both with him scoring goals and helping get his teammates involved.”
Caraglio has played for Argentina’s Rosario Central for the past five seasons, scoring 11 goals in 49 first-team appearances. The first four of those seasons were spent in Argentina’s first division, before Rosario Central was relegated for the 2010-11 season. Prior to joining the Revolution, Caraglio had been on an extended trial in Europe, even appearing in a West Ham United uniform while they were in the English Premier League. Caraglio also drew interest from some Serie A teams.
The signing likely involved some kind of transfer fee, which is probably why Caraglio is a DP. His signing follows a growing trend in MLS where relatively younger players with little name recognition are signed to DP contracts. Five of the past eight DP signings fit that mold.
Check out The Bent Musket for more coverage of the signing and the latest New England Revolution news.
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