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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 emerged goal-scorers and immediately got the vibe that Joao Plata not only wanted to help fix what went wrong late in 2016, but to be around long enough to drive RSL toward continued contention.

In his end-of-year exit interview, Plata made it clear 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."

On Monday morning, RSL announced 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. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Waibel confirmed Monday that the extension is a brand new contract with a new structure. That structure extended the time on the pre-existing deal Plata signed in Jan. 2015 when RSL finalized the outright purchase of Plata's rights and made him a Designated Players 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 number's game in MLS," he said.

Regardless, RSL locked up its versatile goal threat who has 33 goals and 35 assists since entering MLS in 2011 with Toronto FC. The Ecuadorian striker is currently the youngest player in MLS with 30 career goals and 30 career assists. Since arriving at RSL in 2013 in exchange for a second-round MLS SuperDraft pick, Plata has established himself as one of the premier attacking threats in the league.

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," said RSL right back Tony Beltran. "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 of 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 file

Position » Forward

Age » 24 (Turns 25 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 Monday making him a Designated Player

Proven goal threat » Plata has 33 career goals and 35 career assists. Since joining RSL in 2013, he has 30 goals and 30 assists the last four years. In 2016, he led RSL with nine goals and 12 assists

National team career » Has four caps with Ecuador's national team, including two goals in 2014