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Toros sign Venezuelan defender Gabriel Benitez

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 01/19/23, 3:00PM EST

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29-year-old competed in Copa Libertadores in 2022 season, has made 176 professional appearances in home country


Rio Grande Valley FC has signed defender Gabriel Benitez, who this past season competed in the Copa Libertadores and in home country Venezuela's top flight.

EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley FC announced today the signing of Venezuelan defender Gabriel Benitez to the club’s 2023 USL Championship roster. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Benitez adds experience to the Toros’ back line, arriving with more than 10 years of top-tier playing experience at Liga FUTVE in his home country. The 6-foot-2 left-back logged 161 appearances in Liga FUTVE between 2012 and 2022.

He has also competed in continental club competitions, making five appearances in the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores this past season for Deportivo Tachira and 10 appearances in the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana with three separate clubs: Deportivo Anzoategui SC (2016), Zulia FC (2019) and Deportivo Tachira (2022).

The 29-year-old has also competed at the senior international level, making his debut for Venezuela in 2019 during an exhibition against Trinidad and Tobago in 2019. Overall in the past season, Benitez made 28 appearances overall for Deportivo Tachira, notching one goal and one assist in 1,992 minutes of action.

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