SANTA BARBARA, Calif. −It was just a short time ago that Diego Rossi first took his talents to MLS.
Playing for Los Angeles FC, the Uruguayan forward spent the early part of his 20s in Southern California, where he built a respectable resume, including becoming the youngest player to win a Golden Boot in 2020.
Now the 25-year-old is set to start the first full year of his second stint in the league more than 2,000 miles away in Columbus. While training for the upcoming season with the Crew during the club's second leg of camp in Santa Barbara, California, Rossi found himself less than two hours away from his old home field.
"It was a good three years there in L.A., the football part and also outside of the pitch," he said. "I enjoy being there and also, we played good football. Now I'm here and also we play good football. So I'm enjoying this, and we have a great group."
When Rossi joined the Crew from Super Lig's Fenerbahçe SK in August, he felt something special among the team from the start. Calling the decision to move to Columbus "the correct one" during his first press conference a part of the club, Rossi's statement was backed less than four months later when the Crew won the MLS Cup Final against his former team .
A more developed player since his time in Los Angeles, as a late-season addition Rossi was behind compared to the rest of his teammates when it came to learning the system of then first-year coach Wilfried Nancy .
Rossi had three goals and three assists in 10 regular-season matches and added two goals and three assists in the postseason. It was a strong stat line in a short sample size, and his coach says there's more to see from Rossi in Columbus.
"Diego didn't have more than 10 days the last two years as a holiday, because he was in Europe and then he was with the national team, Fenerbahce for Champions League and so on," Nancy said. "So, you can see, he's sharp, he's ahead already from what he did last year. He came in the middle of the season and didn't have a preseason."
Having six weeks for his body to recover from the MLS Cup final to the first day of the Crew's preseason, and almost a month of training camp, Rossi is entering the 2024 season with a complete understanding of his role, and he's more physically fit.
Rossi recognizes that he has seen growth from the last time he played in MLS.
"I feel like I have more experience, more years playing football, more games, and I feel like I can learn from those games," Rossi said. "There (LAFC), I was a little bit younger but still the games give you that experience to read the plays or to read the game."
When the Crew acquired Rossi, Nancy knew that he had just played a full Super Lig season. The lack of break kept Rossi from being in top shape throughout the club's late-season run, but he was still able to make an impact.
A forward whose ability to run is utilized in his attacking game, having a full offseason and preseason is expected to enhance what Rossi brings to the Crew.
"I think he puts energy, he puts speed to the team," said fellow forward Cucho Hernandez. "That's important to the system. So, as a soccer player, he scores, he assists, he runs for his teammates."
Rossi can feel the connection with Hernandez on and off the field, which he thinks can grow their games.
Rossi did end up playing a significant role last season, but now that he is completely adjusted and ready to play, this season will be the test of how well fits in Nancy's system .
"The way we play, that dynamic and energy that he (Nancy) asks of us helped me on my style of playing," Rossi said. "Also, the way that we are taught and the way that we connect passes, the way that we run all together, that's a part of my style of playing, so it's better obviously for me."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What to expect from Columbus Crew's Diego Rossi this season
