The days of teenage midfielder Gianluca Busio contributing here and there as a role player are over.
At 18 years young, the Sporting Kansas City Academy product is a bona fide first-team starter for a team that carries title aspirations into the final stretch of the MLS regular season campaign.
Busio joined Sports Radio 810 WHB this afternoon, discussing a variety of soccer-centric topics with The Program host Soren Petro. In addition to reflecting on his recent standout performances at the MLS level, Busio gave insight into how he approaches his passing game, his experience playing in both the defensive and attacking midfield positions, and his future as one of the brightest youngsters in American soccer.
“I’ve always been very open about what I want to do with my future,” Busio said. “Ever since I signed in MLS, I’ve said that I want to go to Europe at some point. It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the Champions League and international games like that. But I’m not going to rush it. I’m very focused on our team and the games in hand.”
Listen to the full podcast below.
SportingKC
·
Gianluca Busio joins Sports Radio 810 WHB
Busio signed a Homegrown deal with Sporting in 2017 when he was 15, becoming the second-youngest player in MLS history at the time. He broke into the first team the following year as the club’s youngest player to feature in a game, score a goal and record an assist. The midfielder took yet another jump in 2019, notably scoring three straight games and ending the campaign with 26 appearances in all competitions.
That brings us to the ongoing 2020 season, where Busio has blossomed into an integral member for a Sporting Kansas City side that occupies third place in the Western Conference. His increased role is best illustrated by the fact that he has played over 60% of the available minutes in 2020, starting 11 of 16 appearances in all competitions. The lone match Busio missed was resulted from a one-game suspension due to caution accumulation.
GIANLUCA BUSIO: MINUTES PLAYED FOR SPORTING KC (ALL COMPETITIONS)
<strong>Season</strong> |
<strong>Minutes Played</strong> |
<strong>Minutes Available</strong> |
<strong>Percentage Played</strong> |
<div>2018</div> |
<div>243</div> |
<div>3,690</div> |
<div>6.6%</div> |
<div>2019</div> |
<div>1,012</div> |
<div>3,690</div> |
<div>27.4%</div> |
<div>2020</div> |
<div>949</div> |
<div>1,560</div> |
<div>60.8%</div> |
Busio, who tabbed his 50th appearance for the club in all competitions by starting in Wednesday’s 1-0 home win over Chicago Fire FC, has also added a goal and three assists since MLS returned to home markets in mid-August. He scored a long-range stunner to help rescue a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids on Aug. 29, assisted a Johnny Russell goal in a narrow loss to FC Dallas on Sept. 19, and most recently set up both of Alan Pulido’s goals in a 2-1 road triumph against the Houston Dynamo on Oct. 3.
During a period of seven straight starts in the holding midfield spot from Aug. 21 to Sept. 19, Busio was Sporting’s leader in tackles won, successful passes and passing accuracy. In his first game back in a more advanced midfield position, Busio tallied two assists to Pulido.
Given his recent production, Busio has become one of only five active MLS players to record five goals and five assists in the regular season before his 19th birthday. He is the second-youngest in the group to do so.
ACTIVE MLS PLAYERS WITH 5 GOALS + 5 ASSISTS AT AGE 18
(MLS REGULAR SEASON)
<strong>Player (Club)</strong> |
<strong>Current Age</strong> |
<strong>G</strong> |
<strong>A</strong> |
<div><strong>Age at 5G + 5A</strong><br><strong>years-months-days</strong></div> |
<div>Diego Fagundez (NE)</div> |
<div align="center">25</div> |
<div align="center">53</div> |
<div align="center">45</div> |
<div>18y 3m 20d</div> |
<div>Gianluca Busio (SKC)</div> |
<div align="center">18</div> |
<div align="center">5</div> |
<div align="center">5</div> |
<div>18y 4m 6d</div> |
<div>Andy Najar (DC)</div> |
<div align="center">27</div> |
<div align="center">10</div> |
<div align="center">12</div> |
<div>18y 4m 15d</div> |
<div>Jozy Altidore (TOR)</div> |
<div align="center">30</div> |
<div align="center">73</div> |
<div align="center">25</div> |
<div>18y 6m 12d</div> |
<div>Jesus Ferreira (DAL)</div> |
<div align="center">19</div> |
<div align="center">10</div> |
<div align="center">7</div> |
<div>18y 8m 8d</div> |
Winners of two straight matches, Busio and Sporting will look to keep the momentum rolling on Sunday when expansion side Nashville SC visits Children's Mercy Park for the first time at 6:30 p.m. CT. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT with tickets available at SeatGeek.com and live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO, ESPN 94.5 FM and La Grande 1340 AM.
