Rubio Rubin Poised To Impact Real Salt Lake In 2021
Jan 7, 2021, 1:15 PM | Updated: 1:17 pm
Rubio Rubin of the USA celebrates his goal during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 Group A match between New Zealand and the United States at North Harbour Stadium on June 2, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Rubio Rubin has joined Real Salt Lake and is expected to score goals. The 24-year-old brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to an already talented RSL attack, but what are his best qualities and how will RSL utilize his skillset?
Pro’s
Rubin isn’t the tallest of strikers at 5 feet 9 inches, however, he isn’t small by any stretch either. He fits a mold that can pose dangerous in front of goal when the ball is being delivered into the box in the air.
Not that his goal-scoring strength lies with finishing with his head, it’s just he has the ability to score both with his feet and his head.
Rubio Rubin has signed a deal to join @realsaltlake. How big of an impact do you think the young American can have in #RSL's attacking third?https://t.co/Cgi0CjxCSs
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021
Rubin is agile and quick. He can make sharp, timely cuts to put himself into better scoring scenarios. He has a unique ability to beat defenders with the ball at his feet by cutting in and away from the goal. Then, when he finds the ball in space he has the ability to outrun opposing defenders. He will rarely be caught when only grass separated himself and the goalkeeper.
His dribbling is dangerous. The young American has shown on numerous occasions throughout his career the ability to beat defenders by dribbling through and around them. When he received the ball, Rubin often finds a way to turn and face his chest towards the goal, putting defenders on their heels.
Finally, Rubin’s best quality is his finishing. Any good striker knows how to score; Rubin is one of them. His preferred foot is his right but he can finish comfortably on his left. At the Major League Soccer level, it is paramount that strikers know how to finish with both feet.
Con’s
The obvious concern is that at just 24-years-old Rubin has already played a decent amount of soccer at a number of different clubs and is yet to stick. What is to say that RSL will just be another pit stop for the Oregon native?
Rubio! Rubio! Ru. Bi. Oooooooooooo!
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 7, 2021
Despite Rubin’s expectations at such a young age, the striker is yet to deliver. During his stint in the Dutch first division league, Rubin only managed to score 3 goals in 41 appearances for FC Utrecht over a three-year span.
Now granted, Rubin was just 18-years-old when he signed with Utrecht and the pressure and expectation was very high for him to produce. His lack of goal scoring in the Netherlands may have been a culmination of the expectation and his youthful age.
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Bottom Line
Rubin is an American, which means he will not take up an international roster spot.
He is also versatile in the sense that he can play as a traditional number nine but can also play out wide or as an attacking midfielder. He adds much-needed depth to the attacking third for RSL.
Rubin is not the final answer for RSL at the striking position. The club is pursuing other attacking options, specifically at the number nine position. However, Rubin will play a role with RSL in 2021 and has the quality to dismantle opposing MLS defenses if he can be utilized correctly.
It also must be worth noting that Rubin joins RSL after being managed by the late Diego Maradona during his spell at Dorados in 2019 where he scored 5 goals in 34 appearances from 2019-2020.
