THE MEDFORD MESSI

When Brenden Aaronson joined Red Bull Salzburg in January 2021, the versatile attacking midfielder could have been forgiven for taking some time to adjust to life in Austria. With little more than 50 appearances in Major League Soccer to his name, it seemed unlikely that he would immediately adapt to the standard of the league and the huge demands placed on attacking players at the Austrian champions.

Under Jesse Marsch, Salzburg players were expected to play high-tempo football with the ball and undertake aggressive pressing without it. The belief was that Aaronson would adjust gradually, as hitting the ground running would be a serious challenge for a player who had only been a regular starter for Philadelphia Union for a couple of seasons.

That school of thought quickly dissipated, as Aaronson became a crucial member of the Salzburg team, making 25 appearances in all