LA Galaxy recently confirmed the signing of Gabriel Pec from Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama for a club-record fee of $10m, with the five-time MLS Cup winners excited with the potential the 22-year-old has.
The Galaxy splashed the cast to prize Pec away from Vasco, where he’d spent his entire professional career up until his big-money move, and he’s set to bring some more flair back into Dignity Health Sports Park alongside Diego Fagundez and Riqui Puig.
Here’s how the Galaxy could lineup with Pec in the side.
Pec is most-suited out on the right flank, as he looks to cut inside with his favored left foot and create problems for his opponents.
The numbers back this claim up, too, as he’s played the most games in his career on the right, tallying 11 goals and six assists in 62 games for Vasco. In Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney’s mind, this is probably the most optimal scenario with Fagundez in his favored position on the left and Dejan Joveljic up front.
Should the Galaxy add another winger during the transfer window or encounter tough situations with injuries, Pec is also familiar with lining up on the left-wing.
Pec featured on the left-wing 34 times for Vasco, scoring twice and adding three assists. It might be a little more tricky for him to be as productive on the left given he’s left-footed, but since he’s still in the early stages of his career, he has plenty of time to get more comfortable with using his right foot in certain scenarios.
Pec playing as a traditional striker isn’t really suited to his strengths, but it’s still a possibility for Vanney and co.
Pec has played up front as a target man just 10 times in his career without finding the back of the net. This more than likely won’t happen unless LA encounter terrible injury luck with their main strikers Miguel Berry and Joveljic.
