FC Dallas got their man.
A month after Mauro Díaz's name was first connected to the club, and days after Hunt Sports Group vice president Dan Hunt teased his Twitter followers by suggesting the club was close on adding a young attacking talent, FCD got the deed done on Wednesday with the signing of the Argentine midfielder.
Díaz is a 22-year-old playmaker out of the youth ranks of famed Buenos Aires super club River Plate. He made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2008 under famed manager Diego Simeone. Over the next few years, he made 53 appearances for River and scored three goals, and appeared in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana.
He spent the 2012 season on loan at Chilean first division side Unión Española. While with Los Diablos Rojos, he scored five goals and dished out seven assists over 41 matches, 26 of which were starts. He then returned to Argentina for the 2013 Apertura season and made two starts for River.
FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo admitted to MLSsoccer.com last month that Díaz was a player he scouted during his South American travels earlier this year and that he was impressed with the youngster.
“Mauro Diaz is a young prospect who fits the profile FC Dallas was looking to add,” Clavijo said in a statement on Wednesday. “We’re excited to see how he will complement an already very talented offensive lineup as we head into the second half of the season with the goal of winning the MLS Cup.”
A native of Concepción del Uruguay, Argentina, Díaz can play centrally and on the left side and should provide FCD with a shot of youthful energy as well as versatility in Schellas Hyndman's suddenly stagnant attack, which has managed only four goals in its last six matches.
Díaz will be added to Dallas' roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. Per league and team policy, terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.
