BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Know somebody close to the New York Cosmos, and you’ve heard the names thrown around. Real Madrid legend Raúl. Spain world champion Marcos Senna. Venezuelan legend Juan Arango. They’re three of the many stars the NASL club brought in to help brand the team during this, its second incarnation.
Andrés Flores has played with them all, but long before the new Portland Timbers midfielder set foot in New York, he was used to being surrounded by talent. At 16 years old, the El Salvadorian left his home to take up life in the famed River Plate academy in Argentina.