On Monday, it was reported by MLS insider Tom Bogert that Orlando City will be acquiring USMNT forward Nicholas Gioacchini from Caen in France. While it isn't completed or confirmed just yet, this signing could be one of the best in the MLS for a few reasons.
Orlando has just 25 goals thus far (22nd in the MLS), and the squad has a few notable injuries up top. Additionally, Gioacchini has an innate understanding of how to be in the right place at the right time. Combine that with Mauricio Pereyra's incredible passing vision, and you have a dynamic duo that could score a ton of goals in the second half of the season.
Gioacchini is most well-known in the USA for his showing as a part of the USMNT in the 2021 Gold Cup. In his USMNT career, he's been impressive and he showed great potential in two specific matches during the tournament. He scored a goal against Martinique in the group stage, and assisted Gyasi Zardes for the match-winning goal against Qatar in the semi-final.
He has shown flashes when given the opportunity to perform. While he may not have the most eye-popping statistics, remember two things; he's just 21 years old and a lot of what he does won't show up on the stat sheet.
GOAL #USMNT! Nicholas Gioacchini and Gianluca Busio, the two players with K.C. ties, combine at Sporting KC's home park, with Gioacchini redirecting home the U.S.'s sixth
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) July 16, 2021
(via @TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/ceqzH7MepH
While with Caen, Gioacchini doubled as a winger. That's where he will most likely be used with Orlando, and that could do wonders for the team. A front three of Gioacchini, Ercan Kara and Facundo Torres is one of the most young, explosive and hungry attacks in the entire MLS.
In the clip below, Gioacchini plays on the wing, cuts inside for the give-and-go, and then sets up Zardes for a tap-in. This type of play is something that we know the 21-year-old is capable of, and now, he'll have the chance to show it.
Nicholas Gioacchini with a fantastic setup for Gyasi Zardes and the #USMNT goal 🇺🇸
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) July 30, 2021
pic.twitter.com/tphH3kErmY
Going forward, it will be very interesting to see how Gioacchini performs with Orlando City, but this move could end up being one of the best in his young career. He gets to play with an elite creator in Pereyra while returning home to the States, and he gets an opportunity for ample playing time. Only time will tell how great his impact will be, but Gioacchini is in the right spot to get his career back on the right track and give himself an opportunity to return to Europe.