Houston Dynamo signs forward Mauro Manotas to three-year deal - ESPN (original) (raw)

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Feb 22, 2019, 06:36 PM ET

The Houston Dynamo signed standout forward Mauro Manotas to a three-year deal, the team announced Friday.

The 23-year-old Manotas scored a career-best 19 goals in 33 matches last season.

Manotas has scored 35 goals over the last three seasons. He also has seven assists while playing in 97 matches over the past four campaigns.

Financial terms were not revealed. Manotas made $264,328.08 last season, according to the MLS Players Association salary database.

"As a club we are extremely pleased to secure a new long-term agreement with Mauro," Dynamo general manager Matt Jordan said in a statement. "He is one of the most talented young strikers in MLS, who at just 23 years old has a tremendous amount of upside and is motivated to contribute to the success of the Houston Dynamo moving forward.

"This extension demonstrates our club's commitment to identifying, developing and investing in talented young players who are eager to make an impact."

Manotas will again be the team's top scoring threat when it opens the season at Real Salt Lake on March 2. Coach Wilmer Cabrera is happy to see the contract situation firmed up.

"I think it's very important news for everyone," Cabrera said. "First, for Mauro, he can focus on his game, continuing to improve, and continuing to look to score goals which is what he wants and what he likes the most.

"For the team, we have a top scorer, a player that is young and scores goals. Every team loves to have a top scorer. And for the club, because they need to feel proud about their most important player being young and a top scorer."