The number of Orlando City SC off-season additions currently stands at five and there could well be a significant sixth joining very soon.
According to a report from Peruvian source Trome yesterday, Peruvian international goalkeeper Pedro Gallese has all but signed for Oscar Pareja‘s Lions.
In a translated version of the original report, Pedro Gallese has already turned down a “three-year contract” worth $360,000 and a $600,000 signing bonus with current loan club Alianza Lima.
This is in favour of a move to Major League Soccer and Orlando City SC with Pedro Gallese looking to start fresh after a case of infidelity with his wife.
With the Pedro Gallese rumours growing louder at the start of the weekend, an MLSSoccer.com report also communicated the Lions’ interest in the experienced 29-year-old shot stopper.
But who exactly is Pedro Gallese, a player that has certainly captured the imagination of #OCTwitter in recent days online?
Who is Pedro Gallese?
Pedro Gallese is a 29-year-old Peruvian goalkeeper who most recently represented Alianza Lima on loan, one of the most historical and successful teams in Peru.
Standing at 6 ft 3 in and left footed, Pedro Gallese has spent all but four years of his professional career in his Peruvian homeland with a spell at Mexican side Veracruz between 2016 and 2019.
Now a free agent after the December disaffiliation of Veracruz from Liga MX following economic debts at the club, Pedro Gallese is currently Peru’s first choice goalkeeper at international level.
Winning 62 caps for Los Incas since making his senior international debut against Panama in an August 2014 friendly, Gallese is hugely experienced.
A three-time member of Peru’s Copa América squads in 2015, 2016 and 2019, Pedro Gallese was also a member of Ricardo Gareca’s 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
La Blanquirroja‘s fifth appearance at a World Cup finals, Pedro Gallese started all three of Peru’s Group C games against Denmark, France and Australia with the South American side eliminated after finishing third in their group.
An influential member of Peru’s squad that finished runners-up to Brazil at the 2019 Copa América, Pedro Gallese would instantly become one of the most talented goalkeepers within Major League Soccer.
Perhaps alongside Stefan Frei, Brad Guzan, Bill Hamid and Luis Robles.
Genuine quality
As we saw in the case of Minnesota United signing Vito Mannone on loan from Reading last season, the presence of an experienced out-and-out number one is key in hunting down qualification for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
With the jury still out on Brian Rowe‘s distribution and concentration following his first season at Exploria Stadium, the signing of Pedro Gallese would likely relegate the former LA Galaxy man to the substitutes bench.
With the Orlando City SC Front Office already bidding farewell to Greg Ranjitsingh and 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup hero Adam Grinwis this off-season, a new goalkeeper was always on the shopping list.
However, perhaps nobody foresaw the potential arrival of one of South America’s most familiar goalkeeping talents.
Somebody of Pedro Gallese’s quality and experience would represent a huge coup for the Lions and he’d instantly become Orlando City SC‘s most decorated goalkeeper following spells for Tally Hall, Joe Bendik and Brian Rowe in MLS.
International call-ups
Obviously a transfer with a lot of upside, it must be mentioned that Pedro Gallese will likely be a part of Peru’s squad that takes part in the 2020 Copa América next summer.
With the competition taking place between 12 June and 12 July in Argentina and Colombia, a deep run by Peru would mean Pedro Gallese could be missing for a significant period in Orlando City SC‘s campaign.
With Oscar Pareja‘s Lions contesting six MLS fixtures in that timeframe including a first ever home game against Florida rivals Inter Miami, Brian Rowe could well see a lot of action mid-season.
With Orlando City SC needing to spend an international slot on Pedro Gallese, green card applications for some members of the current roster may need to be taken care of.
If signed, Pedro Gallese would become the third Peruvian to represent Orlando City SC following Carlos Ascues and Yoshimar Yotún.
And who knows, perhaps these former Lions swayed Pedro Gallese in the direction of Central Florida?