Costa Rica Sports – Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli had said to expect a ‘surprise’ within the next week.
While it’s not exactly a surprise as rumors had surfaced for a while now, the Quakes announced Friday the signing of Costa Rica National Team forward Marcos Urena to a multi-year deal using Targeted Allocation Money.
The move gives Chris Wondolowski, who was the only forward on the roster, some help up top with another attacking option on offense.
Urena, 26, spent the last six months with Brondby IF of the Danish Superliga. In 45 appearances with the Costa Rican senior team he has contributed with 10 goals and three assists.
“We don’t just look at a player’s merits or international appearances,” Fioranelli said. “We focus more on the player’s skillset to understand whether or not they match what the team needs. Marcos is a very attack-minded player that will be a very important element in binding our midfield and attack. He has great technique and can make many key passes while covering a lot of ground. I think he’s going to be an exciting player for us.”
Urena did not score a goal in 16 appearances with Brondby last season, but he has shown the ability to put the ball in the back of the net. His most notable goal came in the 2014 World Cup, when he came off the bench to score in a 3-1 victory over Uruguay.
As the team who finished last in goals scored in the MLS last season, the Quakes are hoping Urena can provide a spark on offense to help the club reach the playoffs for the first time in four years.
“I think he’s going to be a good addition to the team,” Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear said. “He’s a Costa Rican international, who’s played in some big tournaments. We brought him here to score goals and help us win and that’s what we expect of him.”
By MARTIN GALLEGOS, Mercury News
