FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Even before arriving in May 2019 to begin assessing his roster, Bruce Arena knew that Carles Gil was a centerpiece of the New England Revolution puzzle.
The crafty Spaniard had only played a dozen games in MLS at that point – he had registered three goals and two assists in his 12 appearances – but Gil’s pedigree in both La Liga and the Premier League spoke for itself, and it was clear even from afar that he had the potential to be a special player.
That initial inclination was only confirmed when Arena began working with Gil on a daily basis.