Adrian Heath often used an English idiom when someone or something met expectations: “It’s what it says on the tin.”

Eric Ramsay, Heath’s replacement as Minnesota United head coach, said a similar thing Tuesday about Joaquín Pereyra. It says “attacking midfielder with ability to create goals” on the product’s packaging; and that’s what Ramsay has seen inside the container after a week of training with Pereyra.

“In a good way, (he’s) come as expected,” Ramsay said. “Very technical. In that (intrasquad scrimmage on Sept. 5, he) showed, in particular, he has a real eye for a moment in a game. He’s someone that I think is a real un-locker of a defense. He’s got a real eye for a forward pass. Very precise. Is pretty relentless in that sense. That is what I expected, from what I’ve seen so far.”

Pereyra, 25, signed a 3½-year contract with MNUFC through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028. Coming from Atlético Tucumán in Argentina’s top flight, Pereyra is one of the Loons’ three high-level Designated Players. The MNUFC transfer fee for Pereyra is approximately $3 million.

“I’m here to grow,” Pereyra said in a translation from club employee Marleine Calderon. “I am here to contribute to the team with everything I know, and then with time, we’ll see if I’m that level of (DP) player, but for now I’m happy. I just arrived and the only thing I want is to be able to play an MLS match, to compete, and I hope that will help us qualify for (MLS Cup) Playoffs.”

Roles to play

As advertised, Pereyra considers himself an offensive-minded player, and that’s where he set up in a six-on-six drill during Tuesday’s training session. On a condensed field, he was paired as if a left winger with center forward Kelvin Yeboah on one team; top central defenders Micky Tapias and Jefferson Diaz opposed them on the other side. But later Pereyra was dropping deeper into a midfield role next to Wil Trapp.

This could be the versatility Pereyra will show in matches.

“More attacking than defensive,” Pereyra said in describing himself as a player. “But I can adapt really well in the defensive aspect. My characteristics and qualities are more technical than physical. But the team is finding a balance to have more or less some equilibrium in all the lines where we can make up for some tactical things and be more aggressive.”

Ramsay said Pereyra will need to adapt to many things, including the defensive demands in the Loons’ system.

“I’m probably not speaking out of turn relative to the conversations I’ve had with him about his previous side and the demands that were placed on him: I think this will be a level up,” Ramsay said. “I think the league will be a level up in that sense in terms of structure and tactical demand and information, so I think that will be a big battle between now and the end of the season. Can he adapt, and can we help him adapt there?”

Pereyra will have had two weeks to work with MNUFC before Saturday’s game at St. Louis City.

Adjustment to U.S.

Pereyra’s career has primarily been in Argentina, but he did spend the 2020-21 season in Portugal with Famalicoã. He said it’s “always difficult” to adjust to a new country’s customs and that league’s style of play.

Pereyra’s wife and dog will join him in Minnesota. “They are the two I basically need in my life to be well,” he said. “(My wife) has been with me for quite a while. It’s just the three of us. A little family.”

Argentine influence

Argentina is home to more MLS players than any other country outside of the U.S. and Canada this season. In June, that number was 35, including Loons winger Franco Fragapane.

During the Loons’ courtship of Pereyra, Fragapane tried to help out his fellow countryman. Fragapane has settled in since joining MNUFC early in the 2021 season.

“He was a huge helping hand,” Pereyra said of Fragapane. “Now that I’m here, I can see that the city is very nice and organized. The club is very organized and structured.”

Pereyra was asked if there are any Argentine players he models his game after.

“Not sure if there is someone like me, but I know that (Emanuel) Reynoso played here,” Pereyra said of the former Argentine midfielder who was transferred to Tijuana in May after he skirted responsibilities with MNUFC over multiple years. “(Reynoso is) a great player aside from everything else going on. He did very well here. He was very good technically. But one tries to aim for the greatest whenever possible, and I don’t want to compare myself to anyone.”