While his Deportivo Saprissa teammates celebrated their victory over the Portland Timbers in CONCACAF Champions League play last October, David Guzman went to meet with the Timbers staff.
The Timbers had twice played Deportivo Saprissa in CONCACAF Champions League group play in 2016, and both general manager Gavin Wilkinson and Timbers coach Caleb Porter had seen something special in Guzman.
Guzman had never played for a club outside of his home country of Costa Rica, but he was coming to the end of his contract with Deportivo Saprissa and looking to embark on a new chapter in his career.
When the Timbers offered him the chance to come to Portland, he jumped at it.
"I'm really looking forward to playing here with this team and contributing," said Guzman through an interpreter. "My goal is to win a title."
While winger Sebastian Blanco was Portland's biggest and most expensive acquisition of the offseason, in some ways Guzman might be the most important.
The-26-year-old defensive midfielder is a true No. 6, something that the Timbers have been lacking for quite some time. With Guzman on the pitch, Timbers midfielder Diego Chara can play in his best position as a true No. 8 box-to-box midfielder, Darlington Nagbe can spend the majority of his minutes on the left wing -- where Porter believes he has the best chance of producing -- and the Timbers backline can benefit from some extra protection in the midfield.
"Guzman is going to want to come and play deeper and get the ball off the backs and control that space," Porter said. "That was the first signing that we made and there was a reason. It allows Nagbe to play wide and it allows Chara to be at his best and it protects the center backs."
Guzman certainly looked like the right fit in Portland's lineup last week when the club faced the Seattle Sounders in preseason in Tucson, Arizona. And the defensive midfielder should only get better as he adjusts to Portland and the new style of play in MLS.
The 26-year-old doesn't speak much English, but is hoping to learn the language so he can speak directly to Porter and his American teammates.
With the language barrier, Guzman said his Spanish-speaking teammates have been a big help in aiding his transition. Chara, especially, has taken Guzman under his wing and made an effort to show his new partner in central midfield around the Rose City.
"He's been really helpful to me and my family," said Guzman, who moved to Portland with his wife and infant son. "I've had a chance to just go to a few places in the city so far and it's really pretty."
While Guzman has spent his entire eight-year professional career competing in Costa Rica, he has had international experience with the Costa Rica National Team, which could help him in his adjustment to MLS. Guzman has 26 caps for Costa Rica and has recently been a regular member of the squad.
And after a long career in Costa Rica, Guzman is ready to prove himself in another country and another league.
"I think this is really a good challenge," said Guzman through an interpreter.
-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com
503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg
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