ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - New Mexico United announced on Sunday the club had signed attacking midfielder Marco Micaletto for the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Micaletto arrives in New Mexico having previously competed for South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League One and Columbus Crew 2 in MLS NEXT Pro. The 27-year-old debuted for Tormenta in its inaugural professional season in 2019 having previously played for the club in USL League Two, and over three seasons posted 22 goals and seven assists in 70 appearances.

Micaletto was voted to the League One All-League First Team in 2021 and was subsequently transferred to Crew 2 for the 2022 campaign. He continued to impress, scoring 19 goals in two seasons for Columbus while leading the side to the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Cup in 2022, while being named the game’s MVP.

“Marco provides a terrific scoring touch and physicality in the midfield that we expect will take us to another level, offensively,” said New Mexico United Sporting Director Itamar Keinan. “His off-field character is just as impressive to us, as he has been a community champion everywhere he has played. We're thrilled to welcome Marco to New Mexico.”

Analysis

New Mexico United’s first new arrival of the offseason, Marco Micaletto brings a positive reputation for creativity and finishing to his first stop in the USL Championship, having recorded more than 40 goals overall in five seasons at the third division level. In three seasons, Micaletto recorded 108 chances created as well as his goals for Tormenta FC and was unlucky not to have a higher number of assists in his time with South Georgia.

With his skillset, Micaletto could serve as a direct replacement for the departed Amando Moreno. Expectations will certainly be high as he steps up a level, but the 27-year-old has plenty of what it takes to succeed at this level in the same way as fellow former League One standout Arturo Rodriguez showed with the Charleston Battery this past campaign.