New York City FC (NYCFC) summer signing Bénie Traoré sees his move to the Big Apple as an opportunity to play a part in the early history of the club.
Traoré, who joined NYCFC from Basel as a Designated Player in June, said the club’s relative youth was a key factor in his decision to join this summer.
“I wanted to be part of a project like this in my career. I had the opportunity to do it and I jumped on it,” Traoré said, adding that he views the move as a chance to write himself into NYCFC’s history books.
The 23-year-old Ivorian forward has featured in each of NYCFC’s three MLS games since the World Cup break, but was officially unveiled at an event at the observation deck at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt on Monday afternoon.
Traoré has yet to score since moving to NYCFC, but is not concerned and insists that his first goal for the club is “coming soon.” The Ivorian is also playing catch-up after joining the club without a pre-season, with the European season ending in May.
“I’m not fit, and other players are,” Traoré said. “I need to work hard to catch them.”
Traoré has not set a goalscoring target for his first season in the MLS but is instead focused on his overall performance.
“I just want to be good at everything,” he said. “I know if I play well, I’m going to score. My focus is on playing well, doing things right, and the goals will come.”
He believes that the MLS is similar to many European leagues due to the prevalence of transition-based approaches but added that he is comfortable playing any style.
“I can play transition. I can play possession. Anything, I’m good.”
NYCFC Sporting Director Todd Dunivant heaped praise on the new signing, stating that the club had been after Traoré’s signature for some time.
“Bénie’s was a profile that we’ve been after for quite some time,” Dunivant said. “We were close to doing something for him in the winter, and getting him in has been really, really good.”
Dunivant, like Traoré, acknowledged that the Ivorian forward is not yet up to match fitness after joining without a pre-season but said the early signs are encouraging.
I think he’s at a different fitness level… ” It’s going to take some time to acclimate,” he said. “He can bring not just goals, but he can also provide assists. He’s got good vision. He’s a playmaker. We haven’t seen the best of him yet, but you’ve seen some moments of brilliance from him.”
The Ivorian is currently securing housing in the area after completing the summer transfer and has not yet explored much of the city, describing himself as a “private person” who “doesn’t go out a lot.”
“I just want to be around my people and play football,” Traoré said.
He did, however, say that his new home city is incomparable to his former home of Basel.
“This is the best city in the world,” Traoré said. “You can’t compare them.”
For more on NYCFC like this Bénie Traoré feature, visit AMNY.com
