The defensive midfielder.
The ‘Number Six’.
The position has taken on an exalted status in championship-caliber sides where it’s practitioners receive almost cult-like status.
Claude had a specific role named after him at Real Madrid and later at Chelsea – the Makélélé role.
During the Boss’s story book run to the 2016 English Premier League title N’Golo Kantè was the man two years before he anchored the French midfield in their 2018 World Cup win.
Casemiro was in the role for Zidane’s all-conquering Real Madrid sides, while Lenin Steenkamp filled the role admirably for Pat Ercoli’s teams in Rochester New York football Club’s previous iteration.
Today, RNY FC Head Coach Bruno Baltazar introduces the soccer community to his first choice to fill the role – Bubacar Djalo.
“He is a high-class defensive midfielder, went through the famous Sporting Lisbon academy and Portuguese national youth teams. His presence and game quality can give the right balance to the team in every moment of the game.”
The twenty-five-year-old Djalo is embracing his opportunity to #BelieveImpossible in Rochester in hopes of earning a contract in Major League Soccer proper.
“I'm very excited to move to the USA. One of my biggest dreams was to play for MLS and I believe that Rochester is the right project to achieve that! Many thanks to the board of the club for believing in me and specifically to the coach Buno Baltazar and his staff that definitely convinced me since the first moment that we talked!”
Sporting Director Dr. Lee Tucker - the man Jamie Vardy tapped to build a pathway through American soccer similar to his own in the form of #BelieveImpossible – sees the Sporting Lisbon and Portuguese Youth National Team product as the perfect combination of experience and potential for his young squad.
“Bubacar is a great coup for our club. He has a lot of experience for someone who is just about to turn 25. It also shows the respect Bruno has to be able to attract such a quality player to RNYFC.”
If you listen closely enough you can hear the RNY FC supporters beginning to create Bubacar’s terrace song right now.
Rochester New York Football club has signed Defensive Midfielder Bubacar Djalo to an MLS NEXT Pro PROFESSIONAL contract, pending league and U.S. Soccer Federation approval, in addition to his ITC and work authorization. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Transaction: Rochester New York Football Club signs Bubacar Djalo to MLS NEXT Pro PROFESSIONAL contract
Name: Bubacar Djalo
Pronunciation: DJA-lo
Position: Defensive Midfielder
DOB: February 2, 1997 (25)
Birthplace: Bissau, Guinea
Height: 6 FT AND 2 IN
Nationality: Portuguese
Last Club: HJK Helsinki
