google.com, pub-7058379508891613, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Rapids win Final Friendly in Mexico. Braian Galván Transfer Official. - Burgundy Wave
Sat. May 18th, 2024
Braian Galván LoanPhoto Credit: Mark Shaiken

QUERÉTARO – The Colorado Rapids won their final preseason friendly in Mexico, again in spectacular fashion. Also Braian Galván has officially left the club.

Friday afternoon, Colorado played Atlante FC, a second division team based out of Mexico City. It was a hybrid lineup from Chris Armas as the teams played two 60 minute halves.

Darren Yapi and Calvin Harris both scored inside the first 10 minutes, following up on their goals from Monday. A halftime line change saw Rafael Navarro score a brace just minutes into the second half. Kimani Stewart-Baynes made his presence felt. Jonathan Lewis added another goal contribution to his preseason total with the assist to the No. 9.

Atlante score in the 102nd then had a penalty go off the post as the score was 4-1 Burgundy Boys. Kévin Cabral put the icing on the cake, set up by Lewis to make the final score again 5-1.

The club was nice enough to post some goal highlights. Still, fans and media are frustrated at how limited the visual information is during preseason with the club abroad. This is an area for the club to improve when they are in Orlando later this month.

Bye Bye Braian Galván

César Luis Merlo first reported that Braian Galván could be going on loan to Club Atlético Banfield for 2024 with an option to buy. Banfield finished 21st out of 28 teams in the Argentinian first division last year. Colorado confirmed a permanent transfer on February 9. There has been no word on any transfer fee.

Galván never found a best position to get on the field under Robin Fraser. His temper didn’t help.

He joined the club in the middle of the pandemic. He tore his ACL this time two years ago, which further delayed his development. He’s 23-years-old now. The shine of the Rapids getting an under-the-radar teenager with upside out of Argentina has worn off. He’s probably not a starter right now. Like with others who left this offseason, it was a good time to move on. If the Rapids got some money out of it, all the better. They didn’t pay a lot to get him.

For as much emphasis the club has put on scouting South America better, they’ve yet to have a signing from the continent be a success. As Joseph Samelson, Brendan Ploen, and I once agreed on a hike, ‘Galván’s one of those players we might look back on in a few years and think what could have been. The Rapids have had a few of those.’

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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