Xavier Arreaga: Coming to New England was “a dream come true for me”
To say that Xavier Arreaga’s first week as a member of the New England Revolution was “hectic” might be an understatement.
Arreaga, a 29-year-old central defender with a MLS Cup and Concacaf championship pedigree, was traded from Seattle Sounders FC to the Revolution before the close of last week’s Primary Transfer Window on April 23. Three short training sessions later, Arreaga was wearing the Revs shirt for the first time and tasked with defending arguably the best player in the world in Lionel Messi.
Could Arreaga have asked for a more unique way to kick off his tenure in New England?
“It was, I think, one of my best weeks in all my life,” Arreaga said to DJ Bean on “The Soccer Show” this morning. “You know what it represents to play against one of the best players in the world, against Messi. It was a surprise for me, too, because I didn’t expect that. I was in Seattle focusing on our next game, but the news came to me so quickly.
“As soon as I got the news that I was coming to New England, it was like, ‘Wow’. A dream come true for me.”
Arreaga, a native of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Arreaga arrives in New England with an impressive resume. Arreaga’s five-year tenure with Seattle includes an MLS Cup title in 2019 and the Concacaf Champions Cup crown in 2022. On the international stage, Arreaga has been capped 20 times by Ecuador and earned a spot on the final roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Although the Revs faltered to a 4-1 loss, Arreaga held his own against Miami’s high-octane attack. Although Arreaga has played in front of his fair share of epic crowds in Seattle’s infamously loud home park, even he was impressed with the record 65,612 fans on hand for his club debut.
“It was amazing,” Arreaga said. “My first game here with the New England Revolution and seeing the entire stadium full, the people supporting us, it was so beautiful. I think that kind of game is like any players’ dream, to play like that one day in your life, and it happened in mine.”
Arreaga joins a Revolution team that has struggled to find its footing in the league season, with only one win through nine games entering tonight’s match at Chicago Fire FC (8:30 p.m.) However, the newest Revs player is confident that positive results are ahead, and he has been feeling the positive energy from a group that is determined to get the season turned around.
“I’m really grateful for all the guys, the coaching staff,” Arreaga said of his first impressions in New England. “They are very open and making me feel like I’m at home. This has been great for me. When you arrive to a new team, this is what you need in that moment, to feel like you are a part of the group.
“I’m always going to be grateful with the Sounders, because they gave me the opportunity to arrive [in MLS],” Arreaga said. “I have a lot of memories with them, but I feel so happy now to be here in New England. It’s a new chapter in my career, in my life. I feel so happy and relaxed to be here.”
New England visits Chicago Fire FC for an 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff tonight at Soldier Field. Watch the match free on Apple TV or listen live with Brad Feldman and Charlies Davies calling the contest on 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2.
