Red Bulls nab Venezuelan teenager with huge upside
The Red Bulls have signed Venezuelan youngster Cristian Cásseres, Jr. as a Discovery Signing, the club announced Friday.
The 18-year-old midfielder was expected to join the club earlier this month before visa issues got in the way, according to reports. The Red Bulls beat out other MLS teams who had put claims in for Cásseres, a team spokesperson confirmed to The Post.
“What we’ve seen from Cristian has been promising,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said in a team statement. “He fits into our style of play and we think he can contribute at the MLS level. I look forward to him establishing himself within the group and competing every day.”
Cásseres Jr. made his professional debut for Deportivo La Guaira in Venezuala’s First Divison at just 16. He appeared in 13 matches for the club last year.
In addition to minutes with the first-team club, Cásseres Jr. brings international-level experience. He represented Venezuela at the U-17 level, appearing in seven matches in 2017, before getting called into Venezuela’s U-20 camp ahead of their runner-up finish at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The Red Bulls also acquired German midfielder Marc Rzatkowski on loan from sister club Red Bull Salzburg earlier this week.
The 27-year-old will spend the entire MLS season with the Red Bulls.
Since joining Salzburg from St. Pauli in Germany’s second tier in 2016, Rzatkowski’s scored five goals and had five assists in 27 appearances. He brings Champions League experience and an Austrian Cup to New Jersey.
“He brings experience to our locker room and can play in different positions within the midfield,” Marsch said in a statement. “He has qualities that we like and a personality that we think fits well within our group. He is excited to come to New York and be a part of our team.”
Rzatkowski’s loan marks the third straight year the Red Bulls have used resources from their sister and parent clubs. Forward Fredrik Gulbrandsen came on loan from Salzburg last year but was shipped back to Europe after 11 uninspiring performances.