Strahinja Tanasijević is leaving NYCFC, and it is great news for everyone | OneFootball

Strahinja Tanasijević was somewhat polarizing for New York City FC fans. For most games, he did not play well enough. He was often a liability, and his mistakes led to attacking chances for the other teams. But now, the Serbian has officially left the club.

NYCFC announced that Tanasijević has departed the team. Per Sporting Director Todd Dunivant, the move allows him "to pursue the next step in his career while also giving the club additional roster flexibility." In other words, this allows NYCFC the opportunity to bring in a new defender. In fact, it was just talked about at Skyscraper Blues that the center-back should leave this summer. Instead, the Pigeons need to bring in other defenders.

Strahinja Tanasijević finally leaves NYCFC

Ever since Tanasijević joined NYCFC in February 2024, he has not been the player that the team needed him to be. He was brought in to strengthen the backline, but did anything but that. Yes, there were a few matches that he played well. But after all, there is a clear reason that Pascal Jansen has barely played him this season, and that lies with his struggles to help the team.

Moreover, some of the defender's fouls were costly. Sometimes it led to attacking chances for the opposing sides. It was also a miracle he only received one red card during his NYCFC tenure.

In many ways, Tanasijević was a wasted signing. It is a shame that his time with the Boys in Blue did not work out, and the team would have benefited if he had been good, even off the bench. There was plenty of criticism over the last few years, but fans wanted him to be better.

Still, NYCFC should have let him go via a sale or trade last year. It was obvious then that it was not working out, but he stayed with the club. Likely, Tanasijević would have been better off if he had left sooner. After all, he wants more playing time, and perhaps a change in scenery is exactly what he needs.

Yet, NYCFC only said that he left the team. They did not say whether it was a contract termination. However, one can assume that was the case since it was not a transfer. It is a shame, though, that the club is not getting anything in return. At this point in time, though, letting him just leave is the correct decision.

Now, the Queens team can focus on bringing in a new defender or more. Perhaps the World Cup, which begins this Thursday, will be a place that NYCFC scours for that perfect defender.