Lucas Zelarayan re-signed to win another MLS Cup for Columbus Crew: ‘I feel comfortable here’
The type of drawn-out, agonizing negotiations that can come with signing a star player to a contract extension were nonexistent with the Crew’s Lucas Zelarayan.
Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko stated at the end of the 2021 season that Zelarayan deserved to be paid closer to how he was performing, like one of the elite players in MLS. Shortly thereafter, the Crew announced it re-signed the 29-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder through 2024, with a club option for 2025.
In his first interview since re-signing, Zelarayan said it was an easy decision. And it was one that showed his belief that the Crew can win at least one more MLS Cup before his contract expires at age 33.
"It's a club that has treated me great from the very first minute,” Zelarayan said through a club interpreter. “I feel comfortable here. My family and I, we both like the city. I like my teammates, the training center, the new stadium. And there's a lot of things that made me want to stay here, so I'm glad I renewed. I really hope to achieve big things with this club.”
His latest salary numbers have not been released, but according to MLS Players Association data, Zelarayan’s base salary last year of $1,620,000 was second on the team, behind Darlington Nagbe, and 30th in Major League Soccer. His guaranteed salary of $1,985,000 — which includes bonuses — was 28th in MLS in 2021.
For a player who won the MLS Newcomer of the Year award in 2020, was named MLS Cup MVP and carried the Crew through stretches of last season, there’s little question Zelarayan’s new salary will more accurately represent where he stands among the best players in MLS.
Even though Zelarayan had an up and down season in 2021, he broke the club’s single-season free-kick goal record with four — good enough for second in MLS history — and finished the year by scoring five goals with three assists in the final five games. He was the team leader with 12 goals and seven assists despite going through a spell of just one goal and one assist in 12 games from Aug. 7 through Oct. 16.
Zelarayan said there’s a lot of motivation after falling short of the playoffs the past season to get the team back to where they think they should be competing.
“I want to win another title with the club,” he said.
Crew coach Caleb Porter and Bezbatchenko have chosen to be a bit more creative and pragmatic in how the team sets up this season. Porter is currently preparing to play multiple systems to keep opponents guessing on what the Crew will throw at them, which includes playing Zelarayan out of his normal central attacking midfield role — the No. 10 — at times.
"A part of the equation is where can Lucas best be effective in our team because we need him to be effective when he plays in order to have the best chance to win,” Porter said.
Zelarayan’s tendency is to get the ball on the left side and cut into the middle for scoring chances. He said he believes occasionally playing the left wing will lead to good results, which is exactly what the Crew are betting on and what Zelarayan believes he can deliver as the long-term, go-to guy.
"Any time the season starts you begin with high hopes,” Zelarayan said. “We hope that it's a great year and we can reach our objectives, which is reaching the playoffs and then fighting for a championship. We will work so that we can raise the name of Columbus.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Lucas Zelarayan signed extension with Columbus Crew for another title
