It’s been less than a day since Maicon Santos became FC Dallas’ newest forward, but already one can hear the excitement in his voice.
“Dallas is very good,” Santos told MLSsoccer.com. “It’s a new beginning for me coming from a team on the bottom to a team on top. I am excited to be a part of this team.”
The former TFC captain was traded from Toronto FC (eighth place in the Eastern Conference) to FC Dallas (second place in the West) in exchange for midfielder Eric Avila on Tuesday afternoon. FCD also received an international slot for the remainder of the 2011 season.
WATCH: Santos beats Rimando
“Given the way we play and the type of ball movement we get, I think [Santos] will contribute immediately to the team,” FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman said in the official press release.
Santos started 15 games for Toronto this season, scoring six goals and one assist for the Canadian side. In his three MLS seasons with Chivas USA and Toronto, the 27-year-old Brazilian has 12 goals and four assists in 51 games.
Santos joins an FC Dallas side that likes to counter attack and includes such offensively talented players like Brek Shea, Jackson and Marvin Chávez.
“It’s exciting to have other teammates that know how to attack,” Santos said. “They know what to do with the ball.”
Santos also joins a squad that features three Brazilian players in Jackson, Bruno Guarda and Ricardo Villar.
“That’s great to have teammates that know the Brazilian style of football,” Santos added.
There has been no secret of FC Dallas’ desire to acquire a forward, especially with teenage sensation Fabián Castillo participating in the U-20 World Cup with Colombia and missing nearly six weeks of training and games.
“We are very excited that Maicon Santos is joining FC Dallas,” Hyndman said in the release. “He is an established player in MLS. He’s got great size.”
But Santos is unaware of any tactical changes in FC Dallas’ current lone striker system, nor is he certain if Hyndman will return to his preferable 4-4-2 formation with possibly Castillo and himself slotting in up top.
“We didn’t talk about anything yet,” Santos said. “I’m ready to start training with the team and go from there. I’m just excited to get out there.”
Santos is eligible for the first time in FCD’s stripes this weekend when they travel to Los Angeles to play the Galaxy, a team against whom Santos said he loves to play.
Robert Casner covers FC Dallas for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at rmcasner@gmail.com and on Twitter: @FCDallasBeatGuy
