Photo Credit – Laura Lee Images/Real Salt Lake
The March international break forced many MLS clubs to shuffle their pack this weekend and Real Salt Lake was one of them who received a Man of the Match performance from one of their young talents.
17-year-old Fidel Barajas excelled for Pablo Mastroeni’s squad on Saturday, registering two assists in a 2-1 comeback victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Barajas made his first MLS start in the process, taking the place of U.S. Under-23 men’s national team winger Diego Luna, who was away on international duty.
After totaling only 37 minutes to date this season, Barajas logged 89 minutes at BC Place on Saturday, becoming the sixth player 17-years-old or younger to register a multi-assist performance.
“Yeah, that’s cool,” Barajas said postmatch to reporters. “It’s hard work since the academy days. It’s the love for the sport and I never imagined myself competing at this level at 17. It’s really exciting.”
Barajas was acquired by Real Salt Lake this past winter from USL side Charleston Battery after earning 2023 USL Championship Young Player of the Year honors last season. The former San Jose Earthquakes academy player delivered five goals and 13 assists for the Battery, earning valuable playing time for a title-chasing franchise.
After delivering two assists in a six-minute period for RSL, Barajas will certainly be in the mix for added playing time as the season continues.
“I think that’s the case for any young player, is you’re always needing an opportunity and sometimes it shows up from injury, sometimes it shows up for international duty,” said Mastroeni.
“But the most important thing and the hardest thing to preach from a coaching perspective is to be ready when that opportunity comes,” he added. “Because oftentimes, they do not perform like Fidel did tonight.”
Not only will Barajas be on the radar of several opposing MLS defenses, but he also is a rising prospect on the international level. Barajas is eligible to represent both the United States and Mexico on the international stage, featuring for El Tri at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
Like many young players, Barajas will have to make his international decision in the coming future, but for now he will continue trying to develop with RSL.
“Fidel’s greatest attribute is that he is always thinking of goals,” Mastroeni said. “He’s not thinking about possession, he’s not trying to keep the ball. He’s trying to hit the back of the net every time he gets the ball. I think he hit a crossbar or post twice, set up both goals. The young man has got a great future.”
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