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Sandy • Craig Waibel still characterizes the conversation as a healthy one. It'd be hard not to at this point.
The Real Salt Lake general manager sat across the table from the club's established goal-scorers and immediately got the vibe that Joao Plata not only wanted to help fix what went wrong late in 2016, but he wanted to be around long enough to drive RSL toward continued contention.
Plata made it clear in his end-of-year exit interview that his place was in Utah, with RSL, in his claret No. 10 jersey. Four months later, the two sides ensured the 5-foot-3 Ecuadorian playmaker will have a say in the long-term success of the franchise.
"He wanted to stay," Waibel said, "and we wanted to keep him."
RSL announced Monday morning a new multi-year contract extension for Plata, who turns 25 on Wednesday. The new deal makes Plata one of RSL's three Designated Players, where he joins fellow attacking players Yura Movsisyan and Albert Rusnák. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per club and league policy.
Waibel confirmed Monday that the extension is a new contract with a new structure. That structure extended the time on the pre-existing deal Plata signed in January 2015 when RSL finalized the outright purchase of Plata's rights and made him a DP for the first time two years ago. Asked what part of the new deal qualifies Plata as a DP, Waibel wouldn't dive into specifics.
"It's always a numbers game in MLS," he said.
RSL locked up its versatile goal threat who has 33 goals and 35 assists since entering MLS with Toronto FC in 2011. The Ecuadorian striker is the youngest player in MLS with 30 career goals and 30 career assists. Plata has established himself as one of the premier attacking threats in the league since arriving at RSL in 2013 in exchange for a second-round MLS SuperDraft pick.
After becoming a full-time starter in 2014, he has notched 26 goals and 22 assists the last three years, which included an injury-riddled 2015 campaign. His 30 goals already ranks him fifth all-time at RSL, while his 30 assists has him in third overall.
"He's the guy who can change a game in one play — he really can," RSL right back Tony Beltran said. "He can win a game for you. Him being on the field for us is a big piece to our success. Very happy for Joao and very happy that he's happy at our club."
Plata becomes the latest part of the next-gen core of RSL players to extend their time with the club. Movsisyan secured his long-term future at RSL at the end of 2016, while Rusnák's DP deal was signed in early January. Others include Tony Beltran, Luke Mulholland, Aaron Maund and most recently featured homegrown products Justen Glad and Jordan Allen.
"He should be rewarded," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said about Plata. "He's been nothing but solid — if not spectacular — for almost every single season he's been with us. That's what we want to do is lock up people we want here with the club for a long time."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Joao Plata
Position • Forward
Age • 24 (He turns 25 on March 1)
Hometown • Guayaquil, Ecuador
Résumé • Real Salt Lake (2013 to current), Toronto FC (2011-2012), LDU Quito (2010 & 2012)
Sticking around • RSL finalized multi-year extension with Plata on Monday, making him a Designated Player
Proven goal threat • Plata has 33 goals and 35 assists in his career. He has 30 goals and 30 assists since joining RSL in 2013. He led RSL with nine goals and 12 assists in 2016.
National-team career • Has four caps with Ecuador's national team, including two goals in 2014.