Dynamo to sign FB Bush senior Salazar from club’s academy

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Fort Bend Bush senior Bryan Salazar, a dynamic forward who tore up the Dynamo's vaunted defense earlier in the preseason, is close to signing a homegrown contract with the two-time MLS Cup champion Dynamo.

Salazar, 18, agreed to sign with the Dynamo on Tuesday after he, his mother and his uncle met with Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear and team president Chris Canetti.

Salazar is now in the process of picking an agent to finalize the deal, his mother Lesly Cartagena and uncle Jose Lopez told the Chronicle on Wednesday.

"The talks went well," Cartagena said. "Now we just need the agent to speak with MLS to be able to sign the contract."

Although he won't be the first Dynamo Academy player to earn a contract with the Dynamo, Salazar is the club's first player who was truly developed in the club's academy.

Goalkeeper Tyler Deric, midfielder Alex Dixon and Francisco Navas Cobo were considered Dynamo Academy players because they had played with the team before earning homegrown contracts with the club, but those players spent most of their development with other club teams in the area.

Salazar has been training with the Dynamo Academy since he was 12.

Salazar was courted by several major college soccer powers leading up to last week's national signing day, including the University of North Carolina. He will forgo college to sign with MLS.

Bryan Salazar (white) and Warren Creavalle (Orange) in a friendly between the Dynamo and Dynamo Academy. Bryan Salazar (white) and Warren Creavalle (Orange) in a friendly between the Dynamo and Dynamo Academy. Photo: Nigel Brooks Photo: Nigel Brooks Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Dynamo to sign FB Bush senior Salazar from club’s academy 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

"He's a good individual player one-on-one," Kinnear said. "He can make things happen off the dribble. He's an exciting young player."

Salazar has excelled in the Dynamo Academy's two exhibition games against the first team this preseason. In the first match last month, he had his way on multiple occasions down the wings against 2012 Dynamo rookie of the year Warren Creavalle and former starter Mike Chabala.

Afterward, Dynamo veteran Bobby Boswell referred to Salazar as "Little Neymar," comparing him to the brilliant Brazilian star who is considered one of the most dynamic young players in the world.

Salazar didn't have quite as much success in the rematch Tuesday, but he still showed flashes of brilliance. Whatever the case, he will join the first team after he graduates from high school in June. He'll also spend spring break training with the senior team.

"Hopefully, I'll get some playing time with the first team," he said. "I've been training with the Dynamo Academy since I was 12, so I'm just excited and ready to play."