In a sport in which you're only as good as your first touch, it didn't take long for central midfielder Cristian Maidana to make a strong impression on his new Dynamo teammates Monday morning.

Maidana, expected to lead the Dynamo's attack, was arguably the smoothest player on the field as coach Owen Coyle's club opened preseason training camp at Houston Sports Park.

"Seeing (Maidana) today in possession, his first touch is amazing," said veteran forward Will Bruin, who led the Dynamo in scoring last season. "He's already looking to the next pass. I think that's going to bring some creativity in the final third. He's going to be able to pick out some passes that maybe we haven't had somebody able to do in the past.

"It's going to be pretty exciting."

Maidana (5-11, 165) will play the vaunted No. 10 role in Coyle's lineup. He is the creative attacking midfielder the Dynamo have lacked in recent years.

He can create scoring chances in the run of play, an attribute that was sorely lacking from the home team at BBVA Compass Stadium as the Dynamo missed the Major League Soccer playoffs the past two seasons.

Holds Union record

Maidana set a Philadelphia franchise record with 15 assists for the Union while finishing second in MLS last season. He scored three goals and had 26 assists over his two seasons with the Union.

He's a major reason the Dynamo were willing to trade all-time franchise assists leader Brad Davis to Sporting Kansas City this month.

"The way we played for a number of years in terms of the club, (the Dynamo) probably (didn't have) that player who could play that position," Coyle said. "As a player, he's pleasing on the eye, he can pick a pass, he can score a goal.

"I think he can continue to add more goals as well. He's a very gifted player."

The Resistencia, Argentina, native has traveled the globe since debuting in Argentina's Primera Division with Banfield in 2006.

Since then, he has had two stints in Argentina's Primera Division and played in Russia, Chile, Mexico and the United States.

The Dynamo acquired Maidana, 29, and winger Andrew Wenger, 25, from the Union on Dec. 7 for allocation money and the franchise's first-round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

Maidana was eager to settle in with his new team. He began training with several of his new teammates last week during voluntary workouts at Houston Sports Park.

Barnes enthused

"He's going to be big for us," forward Giles Barnes said of Maidana. "We've fortunately had a few sessions behind closed doors before preseason started, and you could see the qualities that Cristian possesses.

"He's got a great left foot, and he's got a good engine as well.

"I don't think people realize how he's a good athlete as well. He sees a pass; he can shoot. You like to play with good players, and he's definitely in that quality."

Maidana wants to use the preseason to develop a comfort level with his new teammates, especially attacking players such as Barnes, Boniek Garcia, Bruin, Erick "Cubo" Torres and Mauro Manotas.

Buddy system

Maidana's transition should be eased with former Union teammate Wenger, who is expected to start on the right wing.

Barnes, who played the attacking midfielder's role at times last season, is expected to start on the left wing.

Maidana takes pridein his smooth touch and calm nature on the ball. He is comfortable with theball at his feet in tight spaces.

Now he'll try to build a bond with his teammates.

"This preseason is going to be very important," he said. "I still haven't spoken with the coach about how I will be used.

"But this preseason is to get to know the teammates and start getting comfortable."