The Colorado Rapids announced Wednesday midfielder Samuel Galindo, a Bolivian international currently with Arsenal, will trial with the team beginning this week.
Galindo, 21, signed with Arsenal in 2010 but has been on loan in in Spain and Bolivia since then. He spent the 2010-11 season with UD Salamanca, then playing for Spanish second division clubs Gimnastic de Tarragona in 2011-12 and CD Lugo in 2012-13. He also played for Bolivian club Jorge Wilstermann in 2012-13.
Touted as a box-to-box midfielder, the left-footed Galindo is also a former captain of the Bolivian Under-17 and Under-20 national teams. Galindo has also made two appearances for the senior Bolivian national team, making his debut at age 17 in a friendly against Mexico.
“Samuel is a talented young player that we’re eager to take a look at in preseason,” said Rapids technical director Paul Bravo in a statement. “We know that his background with Arsenal has given him a solid foundation, and his experience with the youth and full national teams from his country is a boost for such a young player.”
The Rapids are currently without a head coach since Oscar Pareja left the club January 10 to become head coach of FC Dallas. Though reports have indicated the recently retired Pablo Mastroeni could be in line to become the next boss, there has been no public word on the coaching search in recent days.
