Charlotte FC boss Dean Smith revealed that star striker Enzo Copetti will not be leaving the club anytime soon as he remains key to his plans.

Roughly a year ago, Copetti signed with the Crown for a club-record fee of $6m as they prepared to embark on their second season as an MLS expansion side.

The 28-year-old joined Charlotte from Argentinian side Racing Club and showed promise in his first season in a new league, managing seven goals and two assists in 29 appearances. Some small injuries here and there denied Copetti the chance to gain real momentum, but rumors began to emerge about a potential transfer back to Argentina this winter.

Despite the rumors and Copetti — who’s under contract through the 2025 MLS season — not putting up the best numbers out there in 2023, Smith quickly refuted the idea of the forward leaving the club ahead of the new season.

“We can put that to bed straight away. [Copetti] is a Charlotte FC player and will stay that way this season,” Smith said bluntly.

“We’re not looking to offload him. He’s an integral part of the squad,” he confirmed.

It’s a statement from Smith that will bring peace of mind to the Charlotte supporters, as their club can’t afford to begin the new season without their talisman. Plenty of players have found it difficult to adapt to a new league straight away, which is something that’s seen in leagues across the globe and not just in MLS.

The Crown will begin their third season as a Major League Soccer side on February 24 vs New York City FC at Bank of America Stadium, with Smith hopeful of a couple of Designated Player signings before the new season kicks-off.