Like all MLS clubs, the Houston Dynamo had their eyes on loads of young talent at the adidas MLS Player Combine in January.
But the Dynamo’s gaze extended beyond South Florida during that time.
While scouting draft talent in Fort Lauderdale, new Houston Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle and general manager Matt Jordan were looking at a particular 19-year-old forward playing one thousand miles away.
On Tuesday, the Dynamo completed a transfer for that forward, signing Colombian striker Mauro Manotas in a deal announced on Wednesday afternoon.
“I recall getting a phone call from Matt and Owen while they were at the Combine bringing Manotas to our attention, so the opportunity’s definitely been in the works for a while,” Dynamo President Chris Canetti told MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday. “You’re definitely seeing more of an international influence on the squad … probably more important than anything, a youthful influence.”
Jordan has been in Colombia since last weekend looking to seal the transfer ahead of the close of the league’s transfer window at midnight on Tuesday.
Manotas was prolific in the Under-20 division in Colombia, scoring 23 times for Uniautónoma’s youth side in 2013. He went on to find the back of the net six times at the senior level, scoring the goal that saved his Barranquilla-based club from relegation to the second division last year. His solid work at the club level landed him a spot on the team that qualified Colombia for this summer’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
While Houston broached the possibility of bringing the attacker early this year, it was believed that his inclusion in the FIFA tournament (May 30 - June 20) would push his arrival date to July. But, after months of scouting and meeting with Manotas and his family to explain what Houston is about, fate pushed things along.
“We got wind not long ago that he was one of the final [cuts] on the [Colombian U-20 World Cup] team,” said Jordan, who was working quickly to sign Manotas ahead of several other interested clubs.
“He was one of the final decisions. If you look at some of the players they have at Nacional and Deportivo Cali, they have a very deep forward pool. We saw that as an opportunity to work extremely hard to get this done before the window closed [Tuesday].”
The Dynamo said that the youngster should add some attacking flair to the team’s attack, with his ability in front of goal and his physical stature standing out. Still, as with nearly every 19-year-old, Houston says Manotas is raw, and needs some time to fully realize his potential.
“It’s normal, too, that any time a young player at 19 years of age transfers to a new league, a new country, there’s obviously an adaptation period to get integrated into the group, but we have a good locker room,” Jordan said.
Added Coyle: “We know potentially he can be a very good player, and that’s where the investment is, in potential. There will be that period of adjustment as with all young players coming to a new culture and new country, but he has a lot of quality. It’s a fantastic signing for the club.”
Coyle has shown he’s not afraid to deploy his youth in key situations, subbing on three rookies just last week to help hold on to a 2-1 win at Toronto FC.
Where Manotas will play is not pinned down just yet. Coyle resisted attaching a label on the attacker, instead extolling his ability to put the ball in the back of the net from a number of positions.
“You can never have enough goal scorers at your club,” Coyle said. “He’s a very flexible striker …. He’s young so he’ll grow and develop in different areas as well. It’s a young talented player who already has first team experience in a tough league. We’ve got high hopes.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
