Maxi Moralez leaves NYCFC after six seasons

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Dec 27, 2022

Maxi Moralez, who starred for NYCFC when it won MLS Cup 2021, has left the MLS club after six seasons to return to his native Argentina to play for Racing Club, the club at which he started his pro career in 2005.

In six seasons with NYCFC, the midfielder played 194 matches, scoring 36 goals and adding 60 assists across all competitions. he was named to the MLS Best XI in 2019.

Moralez, 35, also played in Russia, Italy and Mexico before moving to MLS in 2017. NYCFC had winning seasons in all six of Moralez's seasons.

“My family and I have decided to return to Argentina, my country, after a very long time," he said in a statement. "It was a very difficult and personal decision for me, one of the most difficult decisions in my career because of what we’ve accomplished together here. I am happy here, and from the first day, the fans have made me feel like one of them. Those memories combined with this City, the best city in the world, has really made this decision extremely hard."

Moralez also played for Velez Sarsfield, winning two Clausura titles. He won the 2007 Under-20 World Cup with Argentina and was capped once for the senior national team in 2011.

“Racing is where I started, they raised me, and many years ago they gave me the opportunity to play professional football and be in the position I’m in today," he added. "It was a dream of mine, of my children and my family, to see me play at Racing and I’d like for it to come true for them. NYCFC has been six years of my life which I’ve enjoyed immensely, with so much happiness, with accomplishments and defeats, but I've always been so happy here playing for this Club. NYCFC is my longest tenured Club which makes me so proud because it’s a great Club, in a great City and being here is like being part of one big family.”