New York City FC made a big splash in the transfer market earlier this summer, signing 23-year-old attacker Bénie Traoré as a Designated Player.
Traoré is early into his time in the United States, but he's already made three appearances with his new team, despite being in his personal preseason: His last competitive match prior to his NYCFC debut in Columbus on July 22 came back on May 14 for his former club, FC Basel in Switzerland.
In a media roundtable conducted this week, Traoré was asked about the biggest challenge presented by his move to MLS, and said "For me, it's just to be fit at the moment, to be in really good condition, to be able to adapt to the team."
That echoes what his new coach, Pascal Jansen, said about Traoré when asked about his progression with his new club after the 1-1 draw with Toronto FC.
"From my 18 months of experience in the MLS, you need to adapt as a player. It's early for him because he joined us recently and his physical fitness is not to the max just yet, so he's not available for 90 minutes, but we have to make sure we get him up to speed," Jansen said.
According to Traoré, a move to NYCFC has been under discussion and in the works since as far back as January, and included some advice from one of Traoré's teammates with years of MLS experience of his own: Xherdan Shaqiri, still with FC Basel and previously of Chicago Fire FC.
"I had [Xherdan] Shaqiri, my teammate in Basel. He was the first one who talked to me about MLS, and the other clubs, almost every day. In January, because in January, New York City came to me, and we were talking every week about that," said Traoré. "He knew my style of play, and he said, 'You will enjoy it, because it's your style of play, the transition game is your style of play.'"
Traoré arrives in MLS still in his prime years at 23, though also with five seasons of professional experience under his belt, spent in various top-flight leagues in Europe. He seems like a player who would have had options to remain in Europe even if he was on the way out of Basel, but Traoré said he was impressed by NYCFC's dedication to signing him, and the project they laid out in front of him.
"Coming to MLS, I talked with Todd [Dunivant] and Pascal, we had a good meeting. I felt like they really want me, and they have a good project for me. It's not a brand new team, but it's a new team, we're growing up, so I want to be part of the history of the club," Traoré said.
