After an offseason of discontent, the most influential player on the New York Red Bulls’ roster showed no signs of being unsettled in a 2-0 win at Atlético Pantoja in the CONCACAF Champions League. Alejandro “Kaku” Romero Gamarra had an assist and controlled the match, picking up in 2019 with the form he displayed for parts of last season.



If the Red Bulls want to make another run in the Champions League like they did last season, or even lift the first MLS Cup in franchise history, then they will need Kaku to be a dominant player. But not only that. The Red Bulls will also need him, after all the sniping and drama of recent weeks, to fully buy into the team and its mission for the new season.



It has been a turbulent several weeks for Kaku, a Paraguay international who joined the Red Bulls after a twisting and turning transfer saga with Argentine club Huracán. This offseason, Kaku was again at the center of transfer intrigue with...