In the latest blockbuster move of this USL Championship season, Sacramento Republic FC announced on Wednesday it had signed Cristian Parano – previously of San Antonio FC, its biggest rival for top spot in the Western Conference – to add another new piece to its title-contending squad.

The Championship’s Young Player of the Year in 2019, Parano joins a Sacramento squad that is hoping he can provide a similar boost that he added for SAFC a season ago while helping it win its first USL Championship title.

Here’s a look at what the Argentine playmaker could add to Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs’ squad.

1. CLOSE CONTROL, PUSHING PACE

One of the things that Cristian Parano has been best-known for since he first arrived in the USL Championship in 2019 has been his close control and willingness to drive at defenders. In 71 appearances across the regular season and playoffs, he has averaged 4.77 dribbles attempted per game while recording 159 penalty area entries.

What’s more, for a high-volume dribbler, Parano’s success rate sits at 53.7 percent. By comparison, new teammate Keko and his tremendous technical skill sits below 50 percent, and that’s not uncommon. Via Opta data, only 12 players that have attempted more than 300 dribbles since the start of the 2017 season sit above the 50 percent line, with Parano ranking seventh. With the margins set to get tighter as the playoffs approach, Parano’s presence could create more space for one of the Championship’s best attacks.

2. MAKING THE TRANSITION

One of the key elements in Sacramento Republic FC’s success this season has been its deeper-lying defensive structure, and the way the side has been able to strike out of that position. In contrast to the San Antonio side that Parano previously played for – one of the most aggressive pressing sides in the league – Sacramento has moments where it looks to press, but the numbers say it more often is happy to win possession back in the center third or defensive third of the field before looking to break.

Republic FC’s 82 instances of winning possession in the attacking third is fourth-fewest in the league, while it sits above average in the other two categories. By contrast, Sacramento’s 13 shots off fast break opportunities are tied for third in the league, and its four goals from those opportunities are tied for second. Given his speed of foot and thought, Parano should add to that dynamic in Sacramento’s impressive transition game.

3. FINDING THE CHANNELS

Republic FC has played much of the season in a three-forward formation that has seen a main center forward – a role most recently fulfilled by Zeiko Lewis after injury to Sebastian Herrera – supported by two players on either side whose role can go wide, but more often tucks into the channels. That has allowed players like Keko or Russell Cicerone to find pockets of space from which they can create, combine, and finish.

With Keko solidly part of that plan in the right channel, the left-footed Parano could provide an ideal counterbalance on the left side and allow Cicerone to become the central forward as he takes aim at claiming the Championship’s Golden Boot. Parano has recorded 12 of his 14 goals in the Championship with his left foot, and while there will be opportunity to experiment and potentially flip him and Keko into inverted roles, the potential pairing of Parano and wingback Damia Viader offers a tremendous balance to the chemistry Keko and Jack Gurr have built.