Luis Felipe Gallegos is one of three visa players signed to Auckland FC. Photo: JONNATHAN OYARZUN/PHOTOSPORT
Auckland FC has locked-in three international visa players just over a month out from kicking off their inaugural A-League season.
Chilean centre midfielder Luis Felipe Gallegos brings years of professional experience to Auckland, with the 32-year-old's latest stop-off being with Greek Super League team OFI Crete FC.
Gallegos has won three Chilean Championships, one Mexican Super Cup, one Mexican Cup and one Copa Sudamericana.
He is joined in the midfield by Louis Verstraete, a 25-year-old former Belgium U21 international that came through the Gent academy. He comes to Auckland from SK Beveren.
Beveren's Louis Verstraete and Essevee's Matheus Machado Ferreira in action Photo: TOM GOYVAERTS
Uruguayan striker Guillermo May has played in the top leagues of both Uruguay and Argentina, as well as a spell in Spain early on in his career.
Head coach Steve Corica was pleased with the talent he had secured to play alongside the local players and was counting on the import players to show the experience of what it takes to win.
"All three of the players are an excellent demonstration of our strategy to blend youth with experience around a strong local core to create an exciting, attacking team capable of competing alongside the best the A-League has to offer," Corica said.
"Luis is an incredibly experienced number six. He's played almost 400 professional games, won a heap of silverware, has a great range of passing both short and long, and I'm delighted we were able to bring a player of his calibre to the club.
"Louis is a bit younger but he's a similar player. A very intelligent midfielder, very organised and a natural leader.
"And then there is Guillermo. He's a very technical, creative striker with great movement. He will be looking to link up with the midfield, to drop back if needed and make those clever runs that get the ball into the opposition box and create goal scoring chances - either for him or his team mates."
Auckland FC kick off their A-League campaign against Brisbane Roar at GO Media Stadium on 19 October.
