BENJI JOYA– Chicago Fire Midfielder Benji Joya tallies an assist in the team’s 2-0 win over D.C. United in Preseason action. February 8, 2014
All posts by
Joel Soñora and Ryan Palmbaum are two American youngsters from very different backgrounds who have three crucial things in common: Both are working their way up Boca Juniors’ famous youth system, are part of US youth national teams and play in the creative attacking midfield role.
But it’s there the similarities end.
Soñora (above) was born in 1996 in Dallas, where his legendary Argentine father Diego was playing for Dallas Burn. The US U-20 international grew up predominantly in Argentina and while he understands English, he isn’t fluent.
For 13-year-old Palmbaum, a US U-14 international, the struggle was uprooting from Northern California to join Argentina’s Estudiantes de La Plata three years ago without knowing so much as a word of Spanish. He had no relationship with the country outside of former player, consultant and coaching mentor Maximiliano Roditis, who has traveled back and forth from the US to aid the integration process and guide Palmbaum in his technical development.
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Wednesday that they have acquired midfielder BENJI JOYA in a weighted lottery. The U.S. Youth International joins the Fire on a one-year loan with a transfer option from Liga MX side Club Santos Laguna. Joya will be added to the Fire roster pending receipt of his ITC.
Our very talented Benji Joya will remain in Mexico’s Santos Lagun after all. Clubs, Including Ruben Romano’s Puebla among others, did not meet the requirements to make the transaction possible; however, Benji will remain in his current club where he will be fighting for a spot on the first team, hoping to catch Klinsmann’s eye and gain a spot in the US National squad.
Dani Is now part of Puebla’s Buap in Mexico; He is now playing next to Mexican Soccer Legend cuauhtemoc blanco. The first squad is taking part in the middle of Pre-season training. This is a good opportunity for Dani to make a name for himself in Mexican soccer and have an opportunity to come back to Santo’s Laguna Better than ever.
Ryan successfully joined Boca Juniors, home of world class legends such as Diego Maradona, Juan Roman Riquelme, Carlos Tevez, and many more. Over 50,000 players have tried out for Boca this year and Ryan was one of the very few to have make it into the team. It’s been a tremendous year for Ryan where he’s also been called up for the National team. – See more at: https://maximilianoroditis.com/index.html#sthash.lU7dUHGa.dpuf
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Interest in former US Under-20 national team players Dani Cuevas and Benji Joya is heating up, MLSsoccer.com has learned, with the duo garnering admirers from clubs north and south of the border. Puebla coach Rubén Omar Romano has also been in touch, according to Roditis, and is keen on bringing in midfielder Joya (top right) next season, while a “team in Denmark” and Mexican second-division side Lobos BUAP have shown interest in forward Cuevas (top left).
READ MORE…
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Benji Joya went 90 minutes in the Santos Laguna U-20s’ 1-0 win away at Club León in the second leg of their playoff final on Saturday to become champion of Mexico’s U-20 Apertura season. – See more…
Lots of rumors surround DANI and BENJI at the moment; their great performances with the U20 National squad has gained the interest of many clubs around the world. But despite the interest, Santos are biding their time on whether they will let the Northern Californian duo go. Caixinha told MLSsoccer.com that San Jose assistant coach Nick Dasovic came calling on the two 20-year-olds, as did several other MLS clubs.
BENJI JOYA and DANI CUEVAS – After spending a few months playing for the U20 USA National squad and reafirming themselves as key pieces of it, Benji and Dani are back in their club Santos Laguna. Both players are now receiving offers from multiple clubs in the MLS, Argentina, Mexico and Eurpe interested in their extraordinary ability; we could be looking a big change in during the next transfer period. – See more at: https://maximilianoroditis.com/index.html#sthash.o1xOoSWk.dpuf