We're down to the nitty gritty in MLSsoccer.com's 24 under 24 countdown presented by EA Sports and it's no surprise that Ecuadorian midfielder Carlos Gruezo checks in at #8.
Signed from Bundesliga side Stuttgart in January, Gruezo burst onto the scene and needed no time to establish himself as arguably the best defensive midfielder in the league. Just 21 years old, Gruezo is among the top 5 MLS midfielders in tackles and FCD is 9-1-3 in games that he's started since early May, the only loss coming in August at Real Salt Lake.
Gruezo has earned his way back onto the Ecuadorian National Team starting all four matches in Copa America Centenario and has been featured prominently in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying which Ecuador is currently 3 points behind first place Uruguay.
Here's what one league technical staffer had to say(check out the full MLSsoccer.com article for more):
“When they’re down, he doesn’t go and hide. He wants to get on the ball and play forward to [Mauro Diaz] and push the ball between the lines. I’ve been very impressed with him, and I am surprised [Stuttgart] let him go. Arguably the most talented young player in the league for me.”
