FOXBORO — On the turf field of the indoor practice bubble tucked in behind Gillette Stadium, a diminutive Spaniard runs through soccer drills — heading balls to his new teammates, making quick, precise passes, dancing around nimbly as he zips through warmups a few days ahead of Saturday’s season opener.



As Carles Gil, the most expensive international signing in the history of the New England Revolution, goes through this standard practice routine, another man stands on the sidelines, watching intently. Revolution general manager Michael Burns authorized the club-record $2 million transfer to acquire Gil from Deportivo de la Coruna in Spain — and Gil’s roughly $2 million salary — and few are more invested in the 26-year-old’s success.



Striding around the field itself, walking over the NFL yard-markers painted in the grass, is a third man — hulking, bald, familiar, his hands clasped behind his back as he surveys what he is...