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Four moves NYCFC should make before the 2022 MLS Season

ByChristian Smith|
Dec 14, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Taty Castellanos speaks as New York City FC celebrates its MLS Cup championship win at City Hall. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Taty Castellanos speaks as New York City FC celebrates its MLS Cup championship win at City Hall. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
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CHESTER, PA – DECEMBER 05: Maximiliano Moralez #10 of New York City FC holds the trophy after winning the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Eastern Conference Final match against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on December 05, 2021 in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
CHESTER, PA – DECEMBER 05: Maximiliano Moralez #10 of New York City FC holds the trophy after winning the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Eastern Conference Final match against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on December 05, 2021 in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)

NYCFC should work towards restructuring Maxi Moralez’s contract

Since arriving in 2017, Maxi Moralez has been an extremely valuable piece of NYCFC’s puzzle. The diminutive attacking midfielder has been brilliant at pulling the playmaking strings to this point and has cultivated a reputation that could see him go down as not just one of City’s best players, but also their most important.

Unfortunately, time is running out when it comes to how long Maxi can be expected to be as productive as he has been. The Argentinian veteran midfielder turns 35 in February and is already well past his prime as footballer. As we’ve iterated several times already, Father Time is undefeated. Fans of NYCFC are already acutely aware of this, having seen the sharp declines of once famed midfielders Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo in terms of both fitness and production right before their eyes. Nobody wants to see that happen again, especially to a player that has already built up so much good faith among the fanbase.

NYCFC should absolutely invest resources into keeping Moralez in the fold going into a transitional 2022 calendar year. But it shouldn’t come at any cost. If David Lee and the rest of the sporting department can help it, removing Maxi Moralez from a Designated Player spot should be the number one priority when it comes to his contract renegotiations.

If NYCFC can convince Maxi to take a big pay cut and stick around for once last year before possibly sailing off into the sunset, it’s worth doing. But should Maxi stay steadfast in maintaining his gargantuan contract, it might be within the Night Owls’ best interests to thank him for his contributions and wish him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

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