FC Dallas forward Alan Velasco 'making progress' in MLS adaptation

With three goals and two assists in 13 appearances so far, Alan Velasco has been adjusting nicely to life in Major League Soccer.

The 19-year-old forward was a landmark signing for FC Dallas over the winter, highly regarded as one of the top prospects in Argentine soccer after his emergence with Independiente and role in the Albiceleste's win at the 2019 South American Under-17 Championship.

Velasco has slowly but surely grown into his role since arriving in a club-record $7m deal, with his latest exploit an excellent free-kick goal to put Dallas 1-0 up in the first half of an eventual 1-1 draw with Inter Miami on Monday.

Across the 2022 MLS season as a whole, no FC Dallas player has completed more dribbles (25), while Velasco ranks third for shots on target (9), and fifth for chances created (15) despite not yet reaching 1,000 minutes.

“Alan is making progress and is developing the way we wanted to," head coach Nico Estevez said after Monday's draw. "We knew he was coming to a new league and he would need time to adapt, but the way he is progressing is great. We see him adapting to the playstyle and physicality of the league and even adapting to the Texan heat is impressive.

"We have seen players come into the league and take the first year in the league as a time for adaptation to the league. He is a kid who works hard and who wants to learn every day. His teammates always push him to his best and want to see him do better every day."

Velasco himself admitted he 'struggled' to adjust to MLS at first, but revealed having his family closer to him has helped more recently.

“I feel calm, my adaptation process has been smooth," he said, adding: "The teammates I have make it easy for me to fit in with the team. Like I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I struggled at first but now that I have my family here with me, I feel that boost they give me and I feel more happy. I try to learn and practice every day so that when it comes to game time I will be ready to go.”

FC Dallas are fifth in the Western Conference and travel to Texas rivals the Houston Dynamo at the weekend.