SECAUCUS, N.J. - Juan Pablo Angel only knows a handful of New York Red Bulls players, but everyone on the Red Bulls knows the team's newest acquisition and is excited to see the Colombian international striker join the club.
"I've known about this guy for such a long time - he's sick," said Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore, one of the players Angel singled out on a conference call Tuesday from Aston Villa's training facility in Birmingham, England. "He's a fantastic addition to our team and I can't wait to work with him."
New York's six-month worldwide search for a striker came to an end Tuesday when Angel arrived from the English Premiership side on a free transfer. Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena said Angel, who scored 62 goals in 205 games for Aston Villa, was always at the top of the list and he immediately turns New York into a dangerous attacking side.
"I know I'm a huge fan of his. I've been watching him in the Premiership over the past few years and he's a world class player," defender Carlos Mendes said. "I'm obviously excited to have a chance to play with him."
With Angel joining the fold, Arena has options up front. The 6-foot-1 forward, who will wear No. 9, can play alongside Altidore, John Wolyniec provides punch off the bench and veteran Clint Mathis can play behind Angel in a 4-5-1.
"Bringing Juan Pablo to our team, it adds another dimension that we've been looking for for a long time," defender Todd Dunivant said. "It just makes us that much better as a team and that much more dangerous. I think that we've been looking to strengthen our attack a little bit and we've done that by bringing him in. It's a good thing for our team - it gives all of us confidence and the competition for spots. I think it will make things much more intense and that's a good thing for a team."
One player who knows Angel, 31, well is Red Bulls captain Claudio Reyna, the club's other designated player. The former U.S. national team captain played against him for several years in the Premiership when Reyna was with Manchester City.
"His experience and his ability as a goal scorer is definitely going to strengthen our team," Reyna said. "He is very active, dangerous in the box and is a true goal scorer. He is very good in the air and has good feet, all the qualities that a top striker should have. I think we are very lucky to be getting someone at this stage in his career from a quality team like Aston Villa."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
