For Orr Barouch, Chicago’s new 19-year-old forward, the chance to join the Fire and work on his game while getting some first-team minutes is priceless.
“It’s been a dream ever since I was young to be a professional soccer player,” Barouch told MLSsoccer.com. “I’m super excited and super happy to be with the Fire.”
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Israeli-born forward revealed to MLSsoccer.com on Friday that the contract he signed to play for the Fire is a one-year loan agreement with Mexican side Tigres UANL.
The loan is a culmination of a month-long trial that began when the Fire were carrying out their preseason training in Florida, during which time the young attacker scored four goals in a February friendly against the New York Red Bull reserves.
In that match, he played at the top of a 3-5-2 formation in that match. However, he says he’s also comfortable playing as a withdrawn striker or on the left wing.
“What I really like to do is drop off,” he said. “I can hold up the ball, too, but I like to drop off a bit more. I like to give through balls and stuff like that. I can also play from the left wing, which is the position I’ve played the most. But if I had to pick one spot, it would probably be dropping off and playing that No. 10 role.”
Barouch said that he’s hoping to earn significant first team minutes this year but, more than anything, he’s looking to improve his game.
“I’m hoping that I can get in with the first team,” he said. “There are a couple of other forwards who are older than me and I can definitely learn a lot from them and … get better each day.”
Sam Stejskal covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com. Email him at sam.h.stejskal@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @samstejskal.
