TORONTO — He’s only 21 years old.
He’s a foreign player who has to adapt to a new league and a new team, but also a new language, a new culture and new country.
But Argentine midfielder Matias Laba, Toronto FC’s newest signing who arrived in town on Friday, believes he’ll be able adapt to life quickly in Canada and in Major League Soccer.
“Since I’ve been here everybody has been extremely helpful. … I hope to learn the language so I can communicate with my teammates, and start getting ahead with that. But so far, I’m very comfortable,” Laba said through a translator during his introductory press conference on Saturday afternoon.
Citing Javier Mascherano as his idol, Laba will also take English language classes offered by TFC, and the Argentine consulate in Toronto has agreed to help the young midfielder to assimilate and adapt to life in Canada.
The Reds on Friday officially announced the signing of Laba to a young designated player contract, signaling its intention to seriously bolster its roster with the box-to-box midfielder. The hope is that the former captain of Buenos Aires club Argentinos Juniors can help quarterback a meagre TFC midfield that has lacked creativity and physical presence this season.
Aside from a hefty pay packet that comes with being a young DP are the expectations of fans. A lot is riding on this deal, as the club has spent considerable time, resources and money to bring Laba to Toronto.
Laba is fully aware of what being a young DP means in MLS, but he isn’t bothered by the pressure.
“It comes with many expectations … But I don’t feel any kind of negative feelings where I’m feeling forced into something. I’m very confident in what I do,” Laba stated.
Matias Laba. #TFC twitter.com/JohnMolinaro/s…
— John Molinaro (@JohnMolinaro) April 27, 2013
One source told sportsnet.ca that Toronto FC paid a $1.3 million transfer fee to Argentinos Juniors to pry Laba away from them. TFC general manager and president Kevin Payne declined to confirm the amount when speaking to reporters on Friday, but did admit “it’s one of the larger transfer fees in the history of the league.”
Doesn’t that kind of admission put unnecessary pressure on Laba? Payne doesn’t seem to think so.
“I personally have always liked players from Argentina. Part of the reason for that is they’re trained very well in the youth development system there,” Payne explained.
“They tend to travel well because they’ve been prepared. Matias is a very confident young man and a confident young player, and I don’t think (the amount of the transfer) will affect him at all.”
South American players who have come to MLS have been hit and miss over the years. Some have been very successful, such as Guillermo Barros Schelotto and David Ferreira. Other notable South Americans, such as Denilson and Nery Castillo, failed to impress.
Payne believes Laba won’t be a bust because of his age and style of play.
“Most of the time when we’ve brought South American players into this league, they’ve tended to be a little older and more established. Because (Laba’s) career is still ahead of him, I think he’ll adapt very quickly,” Payne offered.
“The way he plays, we think his physical attributes and the quikness with which he plays and the intensity with which he plays will fit very well with our team and what we’re trying to do.”
Laba could make his debut for Toronto FC against the Montreal Impact on Wednesday in the second leg of the Canadian club championship semifinals.
