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While Dom Dwyer was anything but a stranger on his return to Orlando City SC last month, Lions new boy Yoshimar Yotún is much more of an unknown quantity.
Becoming Orlando City SC’s second mid-season signing on Friday, the experienced Peruvian international certainly arrives at Orlando City Stadium with pedigree.
Arriving in Central Florida as a Designated Player no less, Orlando City SC fans will demand a lot from Yoshimar Yotún.
>> CLICK HERE TO VIEW YOSHIMAR YOTÚN’S PLAYER PROFILE <<
Replacing Giles Barnes as one of Orlando City SC‘s DP’s this season, the 27-year-old is extremely versatile and it will be interesting to see where Jason Kreis deploys him with 2017 MLS Cup qualification on the line.
#WelcomeYoshi ✍️ pic.twitter.com/x0im6ur86D
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) August 4, 2017
Speaking of his capture, Orlando City SC General Manager Niki Budalic said: “He is a great fit for our long-term plans and someone we’ve tracked since last year. We are pleased to have finally acquired him.
Before Yoshimar Yotún embarks on his first ever taste of Major League Soccer, Orlando City UK have listed FIVE things you didn’t know about the new guy in town!
He’s played in the Champions League before
Just like Scott Sutter, Yoshimar Yotún is a player who arrives at Orlando City SC with some Champions League experience.
While Yotún’s former club Malmö FF finished bottom of Group A in their 2015/16 Champions League campaign, Yoshimar Yotún did at least pick up some invaluable experience.
Appearing in four of Malmö FF’s six group games that season – against Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk – his experience of playing at the highest level should stand him in good stead in MLS.
He’s rubbed shoulders with Neymar and Ronaldinho… well, sort of!
Back in 2012, Yoshimar Yotún was named in America’s Best XI by Uruguayan newspaper El País.
Making the cut thanks to his performances at Sporting Cristal in his Peruvian homeland, Yotún was placed in this star-studded XI alongside huge talents like Neymar and Ronaldinho.
Not bad company to keep at all!
He can play in more than three positions
Yoshimar Yotún‘s standout ability appears to be his versatility.
You could be forgiven for not knowing exactly where the Peru international plays considering he’s comfortable at left back and left midfield.
Not only that but the 27-year-old can also cover as a holding midfielder or central midfielder too.
An all action player, Yoshimar Yotún started gaining more experience in midfield after falling behind Behrang Safari and Pa Konate in Malmö FF’s left back pecking order in 2016.
A regular starter at left midfield for Peru, Jason Kreis will likely use him in this position with Donny Toia firmly established at left back.
He’s earned two bronze medals at Copa América
Peru have long been used to being one of the lesser powers of the CONMEBOL federation.
Nevertheless, Yoshimar Yotún has helped Los Incas achieve TWO respectable bronze medal finishes at Copa América.
Part of the Peru sides that finished third in both the 2011 and 2015 editions of the tournament, Yoshimar Yotún‘s international experience is a huge part of the reason Orlando City SC signed him.
After all, he was won an impressive 63 caps for Peru, scoring twice in that time.
He now wears the same squad number for club and country
While Dom Dwyer couldn’t get his hands on his favoured number 14 jersey at Orlando City SC with Giles Barnes already occupying the number, Yoshimar Yotún has got the number he wanted.
Regularly sporting the number 19 jersey for his international side Peru, Yoshimar Yotún now also wears the number 19 shirt at Orlando City SC.
Who are previous owners of the number 19 shirt in Central Florida I hear you cry?
Those players would be Haitian defender Bitielo Jean Jacques, DR Congo striker Danny Mwanga and most recently, ‘The Beast’ himself Júlio Baptista.
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