Colorado Rapids Take a Wild Shot at 20-Year-Old Argentine Talent | OneFootball

The Colorado Rapids seem ready to take a bold leap in the transfer market. The Major League Soccer (MLS) club has made a formal offer to sign 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Lorenzo Scipioni, currently playing for Tigre in Argentina. And this isn’t just any offer. The Rapids want 85% of his economic rights, leaving Tigre with just a small slice of the pie, possibly hoping to cash in on a future sale.

MLS has shown it’s not shy about spending big, but usually, the spotlight shines on well-known stars like Messi, Busquets, and Insigne. Going after a young, relatively unknown midfielder is a different kind of move.

The Rapids aren’t exactly a team that dominates headlines in the league. While clubs like LAFC, Inter Miami, and Seattle Sounders grab the media attention, Colorado has been stuck in a cycle of mediocre seasons with the occasional surprise. They need a game-changer, and maybe Scipioni is the guy to turn things around.

Offering big money for a player who’s not even a household name in Argentina seems like a bit of a gamble, rather than a sure thing. Sure, there are plenty of success stories in football where risks paid off, but there are also countless examples of bright young talents fizzling out before they even get a chance to shine.

Scipioni isn’t exactly a hot name even in Argentina, where scouts are always on the lookout for the next big thing. He’s made a name for himself at Tigre, a club that’s not exactly a giant in Argentine football, but one that’s managed to churn out some decent talents. The young midfielder has the qualities that fit well with modern soccer: dynamism, a good vision of the game, and a refined passing ability. But is that enough to justify such a hefty investment?

MLS has already shown it’s keen on betting on South American players, hoping they can adapt to the league's style. But we can’t ignore the fact that many players from Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil have flopped in the U.S. Adapting to the physical, fast-paced nature of MLS isn’t something just anyone can do.

The Rapids' offer is intriguing for one key reason: they want 85% of the player’s rights, leaving Tigre with 15%. That means the Argentine club would still have a cut if Scipioni is sold in the future. The Rapids are betting they can flip him for a much higher price down the road, possibly to Europe. But for that to happen, he’d need to make a name for himself in MLS first. And let’s be real: the Colorado Rapids haven’t exactly been a hotbed for global stars. The risk here is pretty clear. If Scipioni can’t adapt or fails to live up to the hype, the Rapids will have dropped a lot of cash on a player who didn’t return any kind of payoff, either on the field or financially.

The truth is, Scipioni’s future is one big question mark. The Rapids are taking a major gamble on a player who hasn’t proven himself at the top level yet. He could be a diamond in the rough, or he could end up being a massive flop. If he comes in and lights up the league, the Rapids might have made one of the best moves in years. But if it goes south, this deal will just end up being another one of those questionable signings fans love to bash.