In the second half of the 2018 season, after spending essentially the majority of his career as a striker, circumstances forced FC Dallas to try Maxi Urruti in an unfamiliar position.
The club sold Mauro Diaz and struggled to fill his void in attacking midfield, so Urruti spent time in a playmaking role. Urruti performed admirably in personally uncharted territory, but FC Dallas stumbled into the playoffs and were eliminated at home in the Knockout Round, as they struggled to create goals from open play.
After the season, Dallas went in a different direction and Urruti was traded to the Montreal Impact, where he's excited to play center forward again.
"Yes, the truth is that I had to adapt to the ideas of the coach in Dallas, who wanted me to play a little further back," Urruti admitted to reporters, translated from Spanish, on Thursday. "But the important thing is that I like to play in the area. If the Montreal coach asks me, that is the best for me because I always played in that position. I like to be in the area, to press. It always depends on what the coach asks me. But I always was a forward with a nose for goal. I always say that the objective of the forward is to score goals. So I’ll try to score and give the team peace of mind."
Over three seasons in North Texas, Urruti featured in all but seven of the club's MLS matches, with 29 goals and 20 assists.
"They were very lovely years…I won titles with [Dallas]," Urruti said. "But when the possibility of going to another team exists, you have to focus 100 percent on that and know that what happened stays as a beautiful memory."
Now, Urruti turns the page to a new chapter of his career north of the border. The Impact finished in seventh place, four points below the playoff line, while struggling to get much production out of their No. 9 spot.
Urruti joins countryman Nacho Piatti, who is one of the league's premier superstars. The 27-year-old believes the Argentine connection will be a strong one.
"[The relationship] with Nacho is very good," Urruti said. "I knew that he was here, we always had conversations, but from the first moment that I knew I was coming I was able to communicate with him. We ate together, and we continue to have a good relationship... I believe he’s going to help me a ton. We hope to have good chemistry and help the club in that way."
