CF Montréal bets big on Giacomo Vrioni to revolutionize their attack in the MLS | OneFootball

CF Montréal have completed the signing of 26-year-old Albanian striker Giacomo Vrioni, the New England Revolution announced. He'll take a Designated Player (DP) spot, as an attacking unit looking for more consistency gets reinforced. And the Revolution clear what was one of their most important DP slots to signal an offensive rebuild that has already brought in Leo Campana with speculative murmurs about Ignatius Ganago.

Vrioni, with respectable credentials, far from uncontested, touches base in town. His numbers in MLS, counting 16 goals and 3 assists in 67 matches, show an efficient player but not exactly dominant. In 2024, he was New England's top scorer with 9 goals.

Before coming to MLS, Vrioni had experiences with Juventus in Serie A that molded him into a technical and intelligent forward. Still, he never managed to settle into a high-level European environment, which ultimately opened the door for his move to the American league.

At CF Montréal, Vroni will inherit an attacking front mantle, taking over as the No. 9 during a period of upheaval in the attacking circle. Loans out for Matías Cóccaro to Atlas FC and the exit of Josef Martínez left gaps that the Albanian needs to fill as soon as possible.

Why did CF Montréal bet on Vrioni?

CF Montréal president and CEO Gabriel Gervais was not shy about talking what the club sees in Vrioni. "Giacomo is a talented left-footed striker known for his finishing ability and efficiency in front of a goal", he said.

Gervais also mentioned his movement off the ball and creating spaces through combinations with teammates. The profile of the Albanian striker fully fits into what Montréal is looking for, given their style of play that depends on dynamic forwards in a three-pronged attack. At only 26 years old, Vrioni puts together experience with plenty of time to keep evolving and adapting to MLS. The Canadian club's bet seems to make sense both for the present and future.

The impact of Vrioni’s departure on the Revolution

On New England Revolution’s side, Vrioni’s departure came with words of praise. Sporting director Curt Onalfo described the player as a “class act on and off the field” and thanked him for his contributions. However, his departure represents something deeper: roster flexibility and the potential for significant changes.

It shows a Revolution team more likely to put an eclectic, and attacking-minded lineup around him, highlighted with open DP slot combined with the recent signing of Leo Campana and negotiating Ganago's services. Now that Carles Gil and Tomás Chancalay feature highly valued spots, indications are that their roster is looking towards deeper bench players bringing the explosiveness and depth required for the competition.

What does one expect of Vrioni at CF Montréal?

Vrioni joins CF Montréal with the differentiating opportunity to establish himself as the main figure in the attack. In New England, he showed flashes of brilliance, but never managed to consolidate himself as an absolute reference. In Canada, he will play a more central role, which could be exactly what he needs to unlock his full potential.

He also will have to prove more consistency in being a winner, something lacking with the Revolution. Laurent Courtois, as first-year head coach, completed the season defeated via elimination by a Wild Card against Atlanta United after their finish of the season in the standing to end in eighth position at the Eastern Conference. For progression in CFM's journey, an improvement on offense, of which he's certainly part of.

So who is the winner in this deal?

From a New England Revolution point of view, moving Vrioni out was strategic, given that it not only frees up a DP slot but also earned the club a bit of money to work on bringing in talent. With Campana confirmed already, the addition of Ganago, this may become one of the most formidable attacks in the league.

The purchase of Vrioni is a more calculated gamble for CF Montréal. It is aware it needs an offensive leader, and the Albanian has the potential to fulfill that role. However, the pressure will be high because he arrives as a DP and carries the responsibility of leading the offensive sector.