New York City FC sporting director Claudio Reyna is happy with the opening weeks of the Dome Torrent era, but he wants to make it clear that the team first tried to keep Patrick Vieira stateside.
Reyna, speaking with Roberto Abramowitz on WADO 1280 radio station in quotes published by Futbol MLS on Monday, said most notably that NYCFC offered Vieira a new contract to prevent his departure to Europe.
"We wanted Patrick to stay, we offered him a contract, the contract was there, to sign, for him and his assistants," he said.
In the end, Vieira opted to return to his native country of France, heading to Nice to become the Ligue 1 club's manager.
"But on the other hand we also wanted to support them if they could go to a good league, so we are happy, he came here and did a very good job, he had the opportunity to go to a very good league now, with a young team," Reyna continued. "He can take another leap to Europe."
Even with Vieira's departure, Reyna expressed his support for Torrent, who has started life in MLS with four wins in five games, including an impressive three wins in eight days.
"Torrent impressed me from the first day," Reyna said. "He is very calm, with the ability to understand everything within the team, the league, and the rivals, he is a coach very well prepared for the day to day, to understand the rival."
You can read more of Reyna's comments on Vieira and Torrent on Univision.
