WASHINGTON – D.C. United picked a good time to bolster their attack, with the announcement Monday that they had signed Argentine midfielder and forward Facundo Coria.
Coria, a 28-year-old journeyman who last took the field as a member of Argentine second-division club Argentinos Juniors, joins a United squad whose attacking corps has thinned out as of late: first-choice forward Fabian Espindola remains sidelined with a knee ailment while striker Luis Silva’s recurring hamstring problems have limited his action in 2015.
"He’s an intriguing offensive piece for us,” United head coach Ben Olsen said after a lively training session Wednesday. "I think we’re going to find out more about him as we go, but the opportunity was right – fresh start for him and a low-risk opportunity [for us] to see a guy who’s played on a big stage and again is looking for a fresh start.
"No shortage of talent. I think he is a very special player, we just gotta figure out how he fits into us and this league. But he seems very willing to adapt and give us another offensive threat.”
Coria, who was actually on trial with the Philadelphia Union in April, is well traveled. United will be his eighth stop in as many years, having previously plied his trade with Villarreal B (Spain), Colo Colo (Chile), Velez Sarsfield, Estudiantes, the aforementioned Argentinos Juniors and Arsenal de Sarandi (Argentina), Emelec (Ecuador) and Liga MX side Pachuca.
Though the attacking midfielder has bounced around quite a bit, quite a few of those moves came as a series of loans during Coria’s stay with Villarreal, as the Spanish side seemed unable to find the right fit for him.
“He is an interesting player,” D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper told the Washington Post’s Steven Goff earlier this week. “He’s hungry. He wants a new start. I think he was humbled from the experiences, but he had a ball and chain because he signed a five-year contract [with Villarreal.] When he was not in Villarreal’s plans, maybe he had other opportunities, but they were paying his salary so he did a series of six-month loans. You can’t always judge by those.”
Coria hasn’t played since January and needs to square away his International Transfer Certificate and work visa – as well as build toward regaining his match fitness, which likely precludes him from taking the pitch immediately for United. But with US Open Cup action opening next month and United slated to start CONCACAF Champions League group play later this summer, Coria will more than likely be counted on sooner than later.
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Though Coria was in United’s plans prior to Silva and Espindola’s most recent setbacks – the Argentine had practiced with D.C. for several weeks about a month ago and began contract negotiations well before the two players picked up their ailments – his signing comes at a fortuitous time for United.
"He’s been here for a while now,” said Olsen, who on Wednesday suggested he might use Coria as a left midfielder or a No. 10 and sees his signing as “an opportunity to get a very good attacking piece here.”
“Again, low risk and fortunately now he’s all of the sudden more relevant to us after the Luis situation and the Fabi situation,” Olsen added. “We had a riches of attacking quality, and just like that you see that that can go away with a few injuries. You always need attacking depth."
