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Orlando City Needs More Star Power

By Christopher Adams

NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 12: Lorenzo Insigne of SSc Napoli competes for the ball with Samuele Ricci of Empoli FC ,during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Empoli FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 12, 2021 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 12: Lorenzo Insigne of SSc Napoli competes for the ball with Samuele Ricci of Empoli FC ,during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Empoli FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 12, 2021 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) /
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It’s Wednesday and day two of our our daily fan thoughts. If you have thoughts or topics you want to discuss, please leave a comment or hit us up on Twitter.

Keeping with yesterday’s theme of transfer strategy, we need to talk about star power.

Toronto FC are setting the world alight with their reported transfer business. The Reds are set to sign Italian superstar Lorenzo Insigne from Napoli on a free transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano. This is a truly unprecedented move in MLS history. The reported salary Insigne will command is unimaginable in this league, as is the signing of an in-their-prime international superstar. Insigne is only 30 (31 by the time he arrives in MLS) and arguably the best player for one of the best national teams in the world. This type of signing does not happen in this league and it’s a game changer.

So what can Orlando City do to match?

Even though the Wilf family has incredibly deep pockets, there will be no Lorenzo Insigne’s coming to the City Beautiful in 2021. But what can Orlando City do to get some real star power into the team.

This is a club that has been defined by its star players. Kaka and Nani are the faces of Orlando City in the MLS era and were two of the highest profile players in the league. Say whatever you want about their on-field performances, especially towards the end of their careers, there was significant media attention given to Orlando because of genuine star power.

Outside of those two, Orlando’s also done a decent job of developing young players into big names, most obviously Cyle Larin and Daryl Dike. Nobody of that stature is on the roster now and that’s a must have for this club.

Ok, that’s dramatic. Star power is not a must to be succesful in MLS. Colorado have no true stars, and they just finished first in the Western Conference. You could argue that New York City FC didn’t really have any true stars either, and they now have a star above their badge. But darn it if it isn’t more fun to have a genuine superstar on the roster.

What do y’all think? Does Orlando need to bring in a superstar or try, discover one or maybe just build a strong collective? Leave your thoughts below.

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