Real Salt Lake Signs Venezuelan Striker Sergio Córdova On Loan
Feb 3, 2022, 8:32 AM
Sergio Cordova of FC Augsburg and Dayot Upamecano of FC Bayern München compete for the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Augsburg and FC Bayern München at WWK-Arena on November 19, 2021 in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake has made its biggest splash of the offseason with the announcement of Sergio Córdova to the 2022 roster.
Córdova, 24, joins Real Salt Lake on loan from Bundesliga side FC Augsburg.
“Bringing Cordova to Salt Lake was amongst our top priorities when we began discussing potential options with the Blitzer football staff,” said Real Salt Lake General Manager Elliot Fall, now in his 15th year with the Club. “We’ve seen him excel with Venezuela, both as a youth and senior national team member, and during his Bundesliga ascension as well. Cordova provides additional versatility to our attack, service from the wings, the ability to go at opponents and lethal finishing. He immediately makes us deeper with his quality, providing intensity, incisiveness and intelligence.”
The signing marks the first player arrival for owner David Blitzer who also happens to be a majority owner in FC Augsburg.
This season, Córdova has only managed 2 starts in 13 appearances and has struggled to find consistent playing time. Earlier this year, U.S phenom Ricardo Pepi signed with Augsburg and has since appeared in 3 games but remains scoreless. Córdova scored 7 goals from 75 appearances since joining Augsburg in 2017.
Córdova began his professional career in Venezuela at a club called Caracas in 2015. He had previously spent the last two years at Caracas in their youth system. On July 4, 2015, he signed a five-year contract with FC Augsburg for a reported fee of $1.135 million USD.
“My arrival to RSL has been very nice, everything is well-organized. We have everything to bring out the best version of us, to get in form for the best performances of your career,” said Cordova, nicknamed “La Pantera,” following his first week training with the Club at preseason in Tucson.
“I think the Club is very good, the style of play, with a good group of guys. From day one I could see this group is a family by the way my teammates received me. I don’t want to talk too much about it, because as they say, ‘Those who talk a lot, do little,’ but I want to compete with my teammates, fight for the badge and make big achievements here in the MLS. I think anything is possible when you see the group of guys we have and their capacity. We know we can get very far this season.”
