Charlotte FC upgrades top line with Argentinian star Enzo Copetti, report says
The front office of Charlotte FC promised investment in its club’s first offseason — and it seems the investing has already begun.
Per a report from César Luis Merlo, the Queen City team has acquired Enzo Copetti, a star striker for one of the top clubs in Argentina. The 26-year-old forward scored 19 goals in 35 starts for Argentina Primera Division squad Racing, which finished second in the league in the 2022 season.
Charlotte FC has paid a $6.3 million transfer fee for Copetti, who is expected to sign a three-year deal with an option for a fourth, per the report.
A Charlotte FC spokesperson was aware of the report, but could not confirm it at the time of this article’s online publication.
This is the first big splash in what CLTFC sporting director Zoran Krneta and newly minted head coach Christian Lattanzio said would be an aggressive offseason. It’s also likely the answer to one of Charlotte’s biggest offseason questions: What would the team do with its remaining Designated Player roster spot?
The Designated Player Rule in Major League Soccer allows clubs to acquire up to three players “whose total compensation and acquisition costs exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge.” It’s essentially a way for clubs to attract impact players that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to under the league’s salary cap restrictions.
CLTFC ended the 2022 season with three players occupying DP roster spots: That includes Karol Świderski, Charlotte FC’s leading goal-scorer this past season who is currently in Qatar representing Poland on the World Cup stage, Kamil Jozwiak and Jordy Alcivar.
Charlotte FC had the flexibility to change Alcivar’s designation, The Observer previously reported.
The deal seems to make sense on multiple fronts.
It benefits Charlotte FC by giving the club more front-line help after a season that saw the team finish in the bottom half in scoring in 2022.
It also seems to punctuate a great Copetti season that ended in drama: Per a report from BolaVip.com, fans of Racing and Copetti had a falling out after the striker missed a penalty kick that could’ve delivered the team a league championship in October. Racing supporters, specifically, placed banners outside of the club’s facility that claimed Copetti wasn’t “taking responsibility” for the loss and went as far to threaten him with physical harm on social media, the report said.
Copetti is expected to travel to Charlotte this week and complete a medical examination before the transaction is complete.
This story was originally published December 5, 2022 at 5:55 AM with the headline "Charlotte FC upgrades top line with Argentinian star Enzo Copetti, report says."
