The Copetti Conundrum: Is the Enzo experiment over?

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

If original designated player Enzo Copetti is on his way out of Charlotte, Kerwin Vargas, who signed a contract extension this week, could be in line for a larger role as Charlotte FC's attacker.

“Enzo won’t be available this weekend as well,” said Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith at the start of his regular Thursday media session. He was referring to Enzo Copetti, the last of the original DPs, the designated players who are expected to be the best and the brightest of an MLS team’s roster.

The other two, the Polish pair of striker Karol Swiderski and midfielder Kamil Jozwiak, left during the off-season, Swiderski technically on load to Hellas Verona in Italy’s Serie A, and Jozwiak on a permanent transfer to Granada in Spain’s La Liga.

The twittersphere and other social media channels were ablaze at week’s end with news of Copetti being coveted by another team. Transfer journalist César Luis Merlo wrote: “Enzo Copetti is Rosario Central's new reinforcement. The club bought the pass from Charlotte and the footballer, who will travel to Argentina in the next few days, will sign a long-term contract. Interesting signing by the Canalla board. #Done deal”

“The club has gotten an interest in Enzo,” Smith said. “So he's had an excused absence from training today and we'll see where that goes. But as of yet, I can't say any more really.

“I think it's always three ways you know, I've always said that if anybody moves anywhere, you have to have a club that wants somebody, and a club who's willing to sell at the right price, and you have to have a player that was willing to go. So then, three things all have to align for a move to happen.”

That Copetti won’t be available against Nashville gives credence to the belief that the stars are aligned on this one.

“You know that this has been unforeseen, and it's happened this weekend, and we just feel that it's probably right for him not to be involved this weekend,” Smith said.

If Copetti does make the move, it will leave Liel Abada as the team’s only DP. As against Portland, he will still be out against Nashville, recovering from a thigh injury in training before the Timbers match.

When healthy, Copetti has been a key player for Charlotte this season, even if it took the number 9, the numerical designation for the player most expected to be among a team’s top scorers, 11 matches to get his first goal. He had just six goals on 36 shots last year; only two assists, which made his very existence in Charlotte a lightning rod for fans looking for a whipping boy to blame the team’s lack of results on.

Copetti was a prolific scorer in Argentina, putting the ball into the net 19 times in 40 matches for Racing Club in 2022. His goal against Portland last week was an example of what could be but wasn’t in his previous season and a third in Charlotte.

Copetti poached a Portland throw-in off the feet of Zac McGraw about 50 yards away from goal on the left side and raced in to successfully slot the ball past goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau to seal a 2-0 victory. The poaching and pressure part was already the most successful part of Copetti’s game in Charlotte. He constantly created opportunities but did not, could not, for whatever reason, finish them.

Who will man the middle?

Most likely, Patrick Agyemang will get the start as he did when Copetti was injured earlier this season. It would be his sixth start of the year. Smith has liked having him as a late game difference maker as the 6-foot-4 second-year player with deceptive pace and a nifty touch in the penalty area has been a handful and a half for opposing defenders.

Other options include Iuri Tavares and Kerwin Vargas.

Viva Vargas

Charlotte FC also announced on Thursday that forward Vargas has signed a new contract with the Club through 2027 with a club option for 2028. Vargas has the fourth-most all-time appearances (60) for Charlotte since joining the team in May 2022 from C.D. Feirense in Portugal, where he broke through to the first team from their academy.

"I am really happy to be staying with Charlotte FC,” Vargas said. “I think that it's a great organization and club to be with, and I am extremely happy to be here and for what's to come."

The 22-year-old Colombian winger has six goals and six assists in 52 league appearances for the Crown but has been inconsistent since his debut match where he unleashed a wicked strike at goal that raised expectations from that moment.

Starting the first 10 matches, Vargas scored his first goal this season in a 3-2 home win over Toronto FC on April 13. He scored his second against New York City FC on April 27. Vargas sat out the Portland match for collecting his fifth yellow card warning of the season. He will be available for selection against Nashville.

“Since signing with us as a 20-year-old, Kerwin has earned his place as valuable member of our attack and received his first call-up to the Colombia youth national team,” said General Manager Zoran Krneta. “This new contract is a milestone for the club as he becomes our first U-22 initiative player to re-sign with us and demonstrates our commitment to developing and rewarding young international players through this roster mechanism.”

Kickoff against Nashville will be 7:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium.

Comments