TUKWILA, Wash. — Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro participated in his first day of preseason training camp on Friday.
The Sounders had given Lodeiro an excused absence so he could take extra time to rest after a busy 2016. He played for 18 consecutive months without a legitimate break because of his midseason transfer from Argentina’s Boca Juniors.
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer praised Lodeiro’s work ethic on Friday, complimenting a player who was forced to recharge during a short offseason window.
“The kid actually works really super hard,” said Schmetzer of Lodeiro.