New Signing: Veteran Brazilian midfielder Ramiro gives Dallas quality all over the pitch.

The holidays are here, and FC Dallas delivered an early gift to fans in the form of Brazilian midfielder Ramiro Benetti.

Maybe you were expecting a quiet couple of weeks with the holidays upon us, but FC Dallas staff are burning the extra hours with contract negotiations and signings in the mix.

The signing announced today, without even a rumor to wet our appetites beforehand, welcomes veteran Brazilian midfielder Ramiro Benetti. With suggestions that Asier Illarramendi’s time is over in Dallas, Ramiro is a versatile player who has slotted in at winger, central midfield, and even right back. He has over 400 appearances in the top flight in Brazil, making him a sneaky solid addition to the roster. His last team was Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, where he logged 54 appearances, 3 goals and 2 assists.

We don’t know the salary impact yet. Is the 31-year-old expensive enough to be a TAM player? Did they get him on a bargain as a free agent? With a two-year contract with a team option for a third, FC Dallas must have felt like they found a solid veteran who can provide quality and leadership from the get go. With a young roster and a couple of veteran players rumored to be on their way out, Dallas needs that kind of presence in the coming year.

Ramiro will be expected to compete in a couple of different spots, potentially provide some roster flexibility in 2024, and maybe even be another role model for young players like Pedrinho who are working to take the next step to the senior team.

News out of Brazil are fairly positive. While one fan suggested that Ramiro didn’t always deliver on the pitch for Cruzeiro, he’s a steady player. Others think it is a pretty good deal for the player and the team, even if MLS is “weaker” than Serie A.

Fun note - his Wikipedia page mentions that he can play as a right defender. Could he be a stopgap measure at right back?

As usual, here are some highlights for you to salivate over.