2023 New Player Preview: Geovane Jesus
In our first story series, we'll be introducing fans to the new players joining the squad for the 2023 season. Today's player: Geovane Jesus
Career
Geovane Jesus spent his youth career mostly in Palmeiras with the exception of a brief stint at Alverca in Portugal. In 2020, Geovane moved to Cruzeiro’s academy and quickly moved up and signed with the first team a year later. Although he didn’t appear for Cruzeiro in his first year, Geovane became a regular on the roster. He ended up playing 27 out of 38 league games in 2022 and helped Cruzeiro get promoted to Serie B.
In December, Jesus signed a four-year contract for FC Dallas as a U22 Initiative.
Position and Style
For the majority of his career, Geovane has played at the right back position. His adaptability allowed him to play centerback and a right midfielder when the need arose. However, based on clips from preseason, his main role will be at right back due to his speed and strength on the ball.
Role
Geovane is definitely a player with a role at the club in future years. The Hunts payed $1.5 million for Geovane and signed him as a U22 player, so the intention is definitely for him to be a starter in the future. This season, however, is another matter entirely.
Ema Twumasi broke into the starting eleven in 2021 as a right back, having to fill the shoes of great right backs such as Reggie Cannon, Bryan Reynolds, and MLS All Star Hernan Grana. For the last two seasons, Twumasi played nearly 4,000 minutes and became an integral player on the team.
So who exactly is the starter for 2023?
2023 Outlook
So far, Geovane has impressed in preseason. The regular season is obviously a different beast but the early reactions from the coaching staff and those around them seem positive.
This season is going to be unlike any other. Alongside the regular season and the Open Cup, MLS Teams will participate in the Leagues Cup and may have a longer playoff format. So questioning who the starter is at right back is simplifying to an unhelpful extent. Both players will likely play at least 1500 minutes.
