Thursday, March 28, 2024

Men's soccer midfielder Giuseppe Barone drafted to MLS's CF Montréal

January 22, 2021
Junior midfielder Giuseppe Barone (10) handles the ball during the first half of the Capital Cup against Lansing Ignite FC at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. (Nic Antaya/The State News)
Junior midfielder Giuseppe Barone (10) handles the ball during the first half of the Capital Cup against Lansing Ignite FC at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. (Nic Antaya/The State News) —

MSU men's soccer midfielder Giuseppe Barone was selected in the third round of the Major League Soccer 2021 SuperDraft by Club de Football Montréal Thursday night. 

The selection means Barone will forego his senior season as a Spartan. 

Barone hailed a successful career in the green and white. Despite missing all but one game in the 2019 season due to injury, the Kentwood, Michigan native racked up seven goals with 15 assists overall, for a total of 29 career points.

"First off, I am really happy for Giuseppe and his family. He has put in a lot of work and has had a great career at Michigan State," MSU head coach Damon Rensing said in an MSU release. "Certainly, it was a little difficult at the end with injuries, that is probably why he dropped a little bit, but I think that Montréal is getting a steal. Giuseppe's upside is huge; when healthy, he is definitely an MLS caliber player."

Barone accumulated many honors at MSU, topping his career off by being named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, an award granted by the Missouri Athletic Club to the top male and female soccer athletes. 

Barone played an impactful role in the Spartans 2018 run to the College Cup. The midfielder had an assist on the game-winning goal in the NCAA Tournament against UIC. As the Spartans progressed in the tournament, Barone would play an active role on both ends of the field against No. 13-seeded Georgetown before playing a total of 73 minutes in the National Semifinal against Akron. His efforts in the Spartans run would earn him All-American and Big Ten Midfielder of the Year honors. 

In his freshman season, Barone started in 18 games and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Joining Montréal as the 63rd overall pick, Barone will join a team coached by Thierry Henry, who is debated to be one of the greatest players in the history of the Premier League. 

"Giuseppe gets to play for someone who's a world-class player, in Thierry Henry. We have had experience where Ken Krolicki has gone in there and started, who was a former teammate of Giuseppe's. They play a good style of soccer that I think will fit Giuseppe as well," Rensing added. 

Barone extended the streak to four-straight seasons where a Spartan has been selected in the MLS draft. 

 

Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

Discussion

Share and discuss “Men's soccer midfielder Giuseppe Barone drafted to MLS's CF Montréal” on social media.