The New York Red Bulls weren't content to sit on a single pick in the first two rounds of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. So they turned one into four.
Deals with Cincinnati and Chicago quadrupled RBNY's bounty on Friday in Chicago. Their first selection was center back Roy Boateng at 16th overall, followed by forward Janos Loebe (22nd), center back Sean Nealis (25th) and wingback Rece Buckmaster (32nd).
“It’s $100,000 in allocation money,” Sporting Director Denis Hamlett told NewYorkRedBulls.com of the club's cost to acquire more picks. “To come away with four players that have the potential to be guys on our team for many years, we may look back on it and say ‘That was probably the best $100,000 we’ve ever spent.'"
Loebe, a standout attacker for four years at Fordham University, will convert to wingback for the Red Bulls.
"We felt that having him at our combine and having some discussions as potentially playing as a wingback, that’s something we know he will embrace at the next level to see himself have an opportunity to become a pro,” said Hamlett.
The draftees will have their chances to impress head coach Chris Armas starting next week, when the club begins preseason training.
“We drafted these guys to come in here, compete and make our first team,” Hamlett said. “We feel like everyone belongs, everyone has an opportunity and it’s up to you to show how bad you want it and how much you’re willing to work for it. That’s the internal competition that will drive these players and make the coaching decisions very difficult.”
