Parks and recreation in Lisbon: Keaton at NYCFC (on loan from Benfica)

Parks' story is more than his time at Benfica, which is why this thread is so long. But you probably know that, since you're apparently being forced to look at all 153 pages of this thread.

 

He played a total of 57 minutes with a first team in europe..... I tried not to waste my time on this thread, but the length of 153 pages is an insult to all the other ya players not named pulisic.

 

Yeah I'm sure the USMNT has consistent locker room arguments over who has the longest YA thread, Tyler Adams is fuming.

Imagine being so small that the length of a thread bothers you.

 

I mean, obviously. Why else would Mix have stopped getting called up? No reason but YA thread jealousy that disrupted the team's chemistry.

 

Also it would explain Mix posting in his own thread, trying to bump those numbers up.

 

I hope you can get over it, brother. I’m probably as guilty as any for the length of this thread but I definitely didn’t mean it as an insult to other YAs.

 

Well, I suggest you don't waste any more of your time on it then.

I'm sure we're all rooting for you to succeed!

 

Thread is useful for learning about Portuguese culture, right?

 

Keaton deserved it, he coulda been a contender.

 

He still can, can't he? I am really surprised he had no interest from other Portuguese clubs.

 

He reminds of a little of Kenny Cooper. He wants to play like a 10, but has the frame of a 9 or a central defender. I'm not sure he will ever get a shot in the Portuguese league. People judge his book by his cover. He's got great technical attributes, but he probably should learn to lean on his God given strengths (power, height) and learn a new position if he wants to excel.

 

I think most clubs wouldn't be able to meet Benfica's transfer demands and/or Keaton's wage demands. Benfica hit their max amount of loans within the Portuguese League at the beginning of the season, so it would've had to be a sale. Outside of Benfica, Porto, and Sporting the Portuguese teams are pretty poor. Transfermarkt is not a definitive source, but just 6 teams have a squad value bigger than NYCFC's: Benfica, Porto, Sporting, Braga, Vitoria, and Famalicao.

Famalicao is currently starting Guga at CM, who was injured just before Keaton joined Benfica B. When Guga came back from injury, he couldn't play his way back into Keaton's spot and wound up getting sold to Famalicao for around $350k at the beginning of this season (that fee is according to TM, there's no way to know what that fee actually is). Guga was supposed to be a big-ish deal, and racked up over 50 caps with Portuguese youth national teams.

 

Source: AZ Alkmaar is a potential transfer destination for Keaton Parks of NYCFC. pic.twitter.com/U1aCCsrbix

— MLS Transfers (@MLSTransfers) November 1, 2023

Parks' contract with NYCFC is up December 2024 with no team option. I don't trust this account generally but I have sources close to the team telling me there is genuine interest from both AZ Alkmaar and from Parks.

If he wants to leave, he can pull a Miles Robinson and walk for free in a year. NYCFC will probably not want that for a variety of reasons. It wouldn't be crazy to see a winter move.

 

It's worth noting that, per capology, Mihailovic is making ~$1m per year at AZ. Keaton's current contract is for $550k, so that's a big bump up.

BUT, NYCFC is dropping Cufre ($750k), Pellegrini ($1.1m), and Morales ($660k) in addition to a number of cheaper academy players. James Sands currently makes over $1m with NYCFC, so there will be room and precedent for NYCFC to offer Keaton a sizeable contract.