ASN: Pepi discusses the dangers, rewards, and the boldness in his transfer to Augsburg

Of all of the Individuals who’ve moved golf equipment in latest home windows, Ricardo Pepi’s switch from FC Dallas to Augsburg drew probably the most consideration – and for good cause. When many have been anticipating a transfer to a prime staff following an incredible season at FC Dallas, it was a transfer to a smaller Augsburg staff that paid a fortune for him.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
February 24, 2022
12:55 AM

SHARE THIS STORY

A LOT OF AMERICAN participant have been on the transfer throughout the January switch window however Ricardo Pepi’s switch from FC Dallas to Augsburg was probably the most hanging – for a lot of causes. As an 18-year-old participant who labored his method into the beginning XI for large U.S. nationwide staff video games after scoring 13 targets for Dallas, Pepi fetched a worth of practically $20 million. After his resolution to symbolize the USA over Mexico, Pepi endeared himself to American followers in every single place.

However that’s solely half the story of his switch. The opposite half was Augsburg.

A number of prime younger American gamers have moved from MLS groups to Europe, however sometimes to both established groups in prime 5 leagues (Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim, Leipzig, Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis, Bayern Munich) or to prime groups in “middle” European leagues (Salzburg, Genk, Antwerp, Feyenoord, Rangers). A transfer to a relegation-battling staff in a prime league isn’t any remarkable (Venezia imported two Individuals final yr, Arminia Bielefeld purchased George Bello), however not even for a fraction of the worth Augsburg paid for Pepi.

Pepi, 19, set Augsburg’s file for a switch and it got here at a time when its survival within the top-flight is in jeopardy. That, in fact, raised questions. How a lot time wouldn’t it take for Pepi to regulate? Might the cash have been higher spent on gamers who may instantly assist in a relegation battle? What was the position within the membership’s American possession?

For Pepi, he’s making an attempt to remain above these questions and as a substitute concentrate on enhancing as rapidly as potential so he will help his staff. Augsburg can definitely use all the assistance it may possibly get because it sits within the relegation playoff place, trailing Hertha Berlin by only a level for security.

“I’m a young player moving from MLS,” Pepi stated. “That’s a big step. There’s pressure because of the big transfer. But for me, I don’t really feel the pressure. I feel like I have to be patient with myself. I have to work every day to become a better player and be able to succeed in this league. I’m progressing well and I’m feeling better and better and feeling more confident day by day…I’m being patient, but also being really, really anxious to score my first goal, for sure.”

“It’s about the confidence. Augsburg made the big transfer because they have the confidence in me and they wanted me to come to the team,” Pepi added. “Obviously I have to take that under consideration when it comes to if someone has confidence in you, then there’s no better feeling as a striker, as a player… I’m here to give back to the team.”

There’s a want for a interval of adjustment. As MLS continues to enhance, an increasing number of scouts monitor the league in search of expertise. This has led to an increasing number of transfers of gamers overseas. However MLS remains to be behind the normal “big five” leagues of Europe. Pepi notes the distinction within the depth, even in coaching the place in Germany, issues are hardly ever ever toned down – even on practices near matchdays.

Pepi has made 5 appearances, together with two begins, to this point for Augsburg however the staff has simply earned one level within the 5 video games he has performed.

“There’s a little difference between the level here and it’s the speed of play and the level of technique that some of the players have,” Pepi stated. “German soccer is a little different. Players here are more disciplined. Not even just players, but people here. Everyone is on time. Everyone is always looking to do the best they can. It’s a little different than the Mexican culture.”

“The Bundesliga is of the top five leagues,” he added. “I want to be able to succeed in this league. It’s a league that everyone wants to come and play. In America, every single player wants to come to play in the Bundesliga… The league, its top five league in the world. Obviously being in MLS, it’s a league that is good for young players. But the next step is Europe for all of us… and coming through the FC Dallas pipeline, I know there were a lot of players who came through it. FC Dallas is one of the best teams at developing young players in the United States.”

The method of deciding to maneuver to Germany and go away Dallas was one which took a whole lot of thought. Pepi got here off a breakout season with FC Dallas and given his age and place, there was at all times widespread hypothesis that 2021 was going to be his final yr within the league.

When the Augsburg transfer was talked about, he knew it was dangerous given their place within the desk. However the worth the membership positioned on him gave him confidence in himself to agree.

“It wasn’t the money,” Pepi stated. “I was planning on staying in the MLS for about another year or another two years. When Augsburg talked to my agent and talked to FC Dallas and decided to come forward with an offer, both teams decided to have an agreement. My agent called me and he was like, what do you think about Augsburg? And I was like, you know what? They’re a great team. He was like, you know the risks you’re taking on to them? It’s a team that they have a lot of young players and obviously they’re in the relegation zone. Are you sure you want to take that risk? And I’m like, Yeah, I’m willing to take the risk.”

Pepi additionally sought out the recommendation of a few of his teammates on the USA nationwide staff. The Bundesliga has been a hotbed of creating prime younger gamers for a lot of causes. For one it stays an incredible league and lots of the golf equipment are prepared to take dangers and play younger gamers. For American gamers, it additionally works nicely as a result of the Bundesliga has far fewer restrictions on importing non-EU gamers than different prime leagues such because the Premier League, La Liga, Lingue 1, Serie A, or the Eredivisie.

Many present prime American gamers are both within the Bundesliga now or have begun the European leg of their profession in Germany earlier than shifting on. After having gotten to know them with the U.S. nationwide staff within the fall, Pepi was fast to strategy them for recommendation.

“Christian and Weston – they played here, and they succeed in this league. It’s something that definitely caught my eye.” Pepi defined. “I had some talks with Weston, with Christian and even Gio. Those are players that helped me with this decision a little bit – to take an eye on the Bundesliga. They said it’s a good league and they said it’s one of the best leagues in the world – that I could get adapted to the league and they think in a couple of years I could do well.”

Pepi together with many of those gamers are set to reunite in just some weeks when the USA will participate in its ultimate three video games of the Octagon. The U.S. staff has a four-point cushion on a prime three qualifying spot however has its most difficult window of qualifying. The primary sport is a visit to Azteca adopted by a house sport towards Panama. It can then conclude with a go to to Costa Rica. The 2 street video games might be in locations the U.S. staff has by no means received.

Pepi may also be seeking to enhance his contribution ranges as he hasn’t scored for the staff for the reason that 2-0 house win over Jamaica within the October window.

“That kind of the challenge comes with all the games that we that we played and we feel as a team that we were put moves challenges for a reason,” Pepi stated of the nationwide staff and its upcoming March window. “I feel like these next few games are now obviously in better conditions, better weather. We should be able to have no excuses. The team lost to Canada and that bothered us a little bit. But we have to make a comeback and knowing that these next three games are huge.”