Diego Rossi on fire ahead of Champions Cup Final

Many Crew fans were skeptical about Diego Rossi’s impact on the team after a slow start to the league campaign, recording only one assist from open play and remaining goalless until mid-May.

The Black & Gold signed former LAFC forward Diego Rossi from Turkish club Fenerbahçe on a DP contract after deciding to move on from 2020 MLS Cup winner and Columbus legend Lucas Zelarayan.

Parting with a treasure like Zelarayan was difficult, especially mid-season, leaving a sour taste for the fans. However, there was significant excitement around the Uruguayan. The two-time MLS All-Star has tallied 49 goals and 23 assists in 107 regular and postseason games for LAFC. Rossi also became the youngest player to win the MLS Golden Boot with LAFC in 2020.

An integral piece in Nancy’s system

Diego Rossi is an ideal fit for Wilfried Nancy’s team, thanks to his flexibility in attack, capable of playing as a left, right, or center forward. The 2023 postseason showcased his best form after settling in, culminating in lifting the MLS Cup in his first season back. Last year, Rossi tallied five goals and five assists in 16 regular and postseason appearances, a promising start that is likely to improve even further.

This May has been Rossi’s most productive month lately, and it’s interesting to note that it coincided with Columbus star forward Cucho Hernandez being sidelined since the loss to FC Cincinnati. In the three road games since, the Crew’s No. 10 scored four goals, helping Columbus secure big wins against Montreal, Chicago, and Orlando City.

This surge of form is exactly what Nancy needs from his new star attacker ahead of what is arguably Columbus’s biggest game in their history. They face Pachuca this Saturday night at their ground for the Champions Cup trophy and a ticket to the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025, where participants will receive a massive paycheck for just qualifying and will play against the best clubs from around the globe.