Before joining FC Cincinnati, Leo Bertone’s vision of America came from movies and a three-day vacation to New York City.
When an opportunity arrived to play here, Bertone knew it wasn’t something he could ignore.
“The league is growing and for me it was like an adventure,” he said of playing in MLS. “I played 14 years the same club. I said to my girlfriend and my family it was time for a new club. I want to go and try this and how it is.”
So far, so good.
In Cincinnati’s inaugural MLS match, the Swiss midfielder produced the team’s first goal with a world-class volley from 23 yards out. It was the perfect introduction to his new team, league and country.
Now, it’s the foundation to build from. Opposing teams can see why Bertone’s last competitive match before last Saturday was beating Juventus in the UEFA Champions League. Fans can, too.
But coming to American doesn’t mean everything is new. In fact, some opponents are fairly familiar.
When FC Cincinnati plays at Atlanta United FC on Sunday night, the MLS expansion club meets the reigning MLS Cup champion before a maximum-capacity crowd of 70,000 people. Atlanta’s biggest star on a roster full of them is Josef Martínez — the 2018 league MVP.
He’s also Bertone’s old teammate.
“That’s the funny thing about football,” he said. “You see in every country somebody you’ve played against. For me, especially in America. Like five or six players I know are good because I played with them and we were good friends at Young Boys.”
Martínez played at BSC Young Boys between 2012-14. He made 37 appearances and scored four goals for the Swiss Super League side. Last season with Atlanta, he scored a league-record 31 goals in 34 games — which is slightly higher than his Swiss days.
Bertone made 131 appearances for Young Boys and scored 16 times. Last season, he helped the club win its first league title in 32 years.
Bertone said he didn’t consult Martínez about coming to an MLS club, but he did tell his old teammate a clue.
“The day before I signed, I said, ‘Wait to see what happens tomorrow,’” Bertone recalls. “Then the next day he said, ‘Finally, I’ll see you soon.’”
Their first reunion is Sunday in Atlanta. The clubs rematch at Nippert Stadium on Sept. 18. Given Martínez’s 2018 dominance, he’ll likely arrive in Cincinnati on a scoring spree.
For Bertone, a holding midfielder, and FC Cincinnati, an MLS expansion club, the goal is keeping him quiet. The first chance to do so is Sunday.
