Jeizon Ramirez Has Matured Since Arriving At Real Salt Lake, Now He Must Prove His Worth

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake winger Jeizon Ramirez has become accustomed to living by himself, however, his Major League Season rookie year was rattled with an abundance of amateur mistakes that he plans on fixing.

Video games, late nights, and being away from his family for the first time was a lot for Ramirez in 2020. All of that and the global pandemic that changed the world for the better and Ramirez was out of place. He did not know how to respond.

The 2020 season was not favorable for @realsaltlake's Jeizon Ramírez, but he hopes to change his fortune in 2021.

Match fitness is a priority for the exciting, young creator. https://t.co/ED8wuXdwiK

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2021

For the first time in his life, he was alone. His family were hours away in Venezuala unable to help guide their prodigy to success on and off the soccer pitch.

Consequently, his poor decision-making led to very few minutes in 2020. Ramirez managed just 80 minutes through 10 games and failed to generate the trust in Manager Freddy Juarez.

New Ramirez Pending

This year, however, Ramirez believes that his time has come. Getting more sleep, eating healthier, and maximizing every opportunity that presents itself in training are a few focus points for him.

“Personally what I need to do is take better care of myself,” Ramirez said in a press conference earlier this week. “I do not go out to parties and I do not go out drinking, it’s just last year I was not taking care of myself. I was maybe staying up too late, talking on the phone, playing video games which just made me lose my focus. So I have to leave those things behind and change my mentality so that when I am on the football field I can have a winning mentality,” he added.

Jeizon Ramírez can fill the void left by the departure of Corey Baird, but will he?https://t.co/xA9dByJ2wT

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 12, 2021

Fortunately, Ramirez is not the only player on the current roster who has experienced similar difficulties upon arrival to RSL. Midfielder Pablo Ruiz, who had a breakout season a year ago, has been very public about his struggles coming to North America and playing in MLS.

“I have talked to Pablo [Ruiz], and Marcelo [Silva] the most. Pablo has told me a lot about that, and how hard it was for him when he first arrived and having to go out on loan. He has actually been a great help for me when we are at practice and doing small games or anything like that he tells me to give my all and to have a winning mentality.”

Ramirez is currently fighting for playing time with a wealth of talented wingers. RSL recently signed Anderson Julio from Liga MX club Atlético San Luis, Maikel Chang had a breakout season a year ago, and Justin Meram is an MLS vet. 

RSL will begin its 2021 MLS campaign on Saturday, April 24 at Minnesota United and will return home the following weekend to take on Sporting Kansas City at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, May 1 at noon.