It is 8.15am in Tucson and the Colorado Rapids are having breakfast. The team are two-thirds of the way through preseason. It is hard but necessary toil so, on this occasion, it is not just the usual early-morning weariness that leaves the scattering of players staring down blankly at their plates.

Then Shkëlzen Gashi walks in.

Despite arriving late the previous evening from Switzerland, he is spritely and smiling. The new signing goes around to each player, looks them in the eye, shakes them firmly by the hand, and introduces himself. He is earnest and sincere, yet friendly.

It is a minor moment. But if first impressions count then Gashi is a little different.

When he first arrived in Denver to sign his contract, the Albanian attacker’s immaculate black suit caught the eye of several of his new teammates. Before media work, he always checks he looks and sounds the part. Then checks again. And again.

It all suggests a player with a strong sense of himself.

This guy knows exactly what he is doing and now he is going to ‘do it’ for the Colorado Rapids.

Externally, his acquisition may have been met with a certain surprise among MLS circles. This was a UEFA Champions League player, top scorer in the Swiss League two years running, a Euro 2016 participant and, at 27, in his prime. Plus, the argument went, the Rapids had endured a couple of disappointing seasons. Yet again, Gashi knows himself and knows his mind. He baulks at the suggestion that the influx of players like Kaka, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and Steve Gerrard drew him to MLS. Gashi, it seems, does not follow the herd.

“No, I spoke with the club and my decision was solely based on wanting to come to the Colorado Rapids,” he said. “I had good talks with the Head Coach and, most importantly, the Sporting Director. After that, I did look at which clubs some of the players are at and where the League seems to be heading.

"You always hear about players coming from Europe to the US. But, in the end, it had nothing to do with any players that are here or are coming, it was solely about me wanting to come play for the Colorado Rapids.”

Before his chat with Pablo Mastroeni, Gashi researched the Rapids Head Coach thoroughly and, during that call, suggested their attitudes were aligned. While very different players, both had to fight their way to the top. Gashi slogged his way through the lower divisions in Switzerland before finally finding his feet at two of the most famous teams in the country - Grasshoppers Zurich and FC Basel.

In the last couple of seasons he has faced stellar teams such as Real Madrid and Liverpool in the Champions League. With respect, his spells at Schaffhausen, Bellinzona and Aarau might have gone unnoticed but, at the same time, they have formed him as a player.

“It was a difficult path for me,” he said. “In the beginning I had a good time, then there were some difficult times. I think overall, in life, you need luck at the right time and right place. I doubted myself at times but always reminded myself that I was able to see a lot at a young age. That made me stronger. Quality always prevails and I am happy to have made my way. I wasn’t given everything, it was all through hard work, which is the way it should be.”

And an unintended consequence of his circuitous route is a well-rounded soccer education.

“Besides keeper, I played every position at a young age,” he said. “Now I’m not saying I want to be a defender because I feel most comfortable in the attack but it’s good to be able to play so many positions and give the coach a little flexibility.

“There were games that I played alone up top as a striker. Then there were times I played as a #6, defensive midfielder, then right and then left in midfield. I am most natural on the wings. But, in the end, if someone wasn’t available in the #10 role, I feel I’ve been able to master that position as well.”

Gashi grew up in Zurich pretending to be Brazilian striker Ronaldo when playing soccer with his friends in the schoolyard. His talent attracted international recognition from Switzerland at U-17, U-19 and U-21 level. By the time he was ready for senior international soccer, Albania, his parents’ country, had also shown interest.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make,” said Gashi. “I sat down with [Switzerland coach] Ottmar Hitzfeld to talk about the team and went home not knowing what to do. I had played in all the Swiss youth national set-ups and I had a great time. I had the opportunity to play for either Switzerland or Albania. In the end, I chose Albania.

“I stand behind my decision completely and can’t wait for the upcoming national team fixtures. The confirmation for my decision is now that, for the first time in the country’s history, we are going to play in the European Championships this summer.

“It is something very big, especially when I think about back to the moment we officially qualified and were received by our fans. I’ve never seen something like that in my life, the support for the Albanian team is massive.

“Small, big, girl, boy, woman, man - everyone had tears in their eyes. It was simply fantastic.

“We are the new generation, making this country proud and it’s beautiful to celebrate with fellow Albanians. I think footballers live for the emotions of the fans and it was nice to give something back to them.”

Before pulling on a burgundy shirt, Gashi was already endearing himself to the Rapids faithful by tweeting pictures of himself in Broncos gear following the Super Bowl, and then name-checking Centennial 38, the official supporters’ club.

Of course, Mile High City takes some adaptation, both as an athlete and a foreigner. Until now he has spent only short stopovers in Colorado but his English allows him to converse and it will certainly improve quickly once he is immersed in ’Merica.

“It is natural for me to need to get used to life in Denver,” he said. “I am unsure of how long I’ll need and I don’t know what to expect. Importantly, my brother will be with me here. He’ll give me the support of my family and I’ll see what comes my way.”

Gashi will have his first training session at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this week with the sun on his shoulders and the Rockies as a backdrop. The altitude, the weather and the scenery might remind him a little of Switzerland. Certainly the mountains will resonate.

That’s because he is named after the “Shkëlzen” range close to Albania’s border with Kosovo.

Mountains are part of his make-up, just like talent and, most especially, hard work. It seems some things are just meant to be.

Welcome to the Colorado Rapids, Shkëlzen Gashi.