Over the last few months, Jonathan Lewis has been everything that New York City FC thought he'd be when they traded up at the 2017 MLS SuperDraft to select him with the No. 3 overall pick.
The winger is making good on his first consistent run of games in his young career. He has three goals across his last three games, sandwiched around his time with the US men's national team at the Concacaf Gold Cup. He's beginning to stretch his legs in the vast space that is his untapped potential.
Except he's not doing it for NYCFC.
Lewis is now wearing burgundy and blue, quickly becoming a building block for the Colorado Rapids and one of the league's most interesting young talents. In May, after Lewis had started just six MLS games over two seasons and change in a deep Cityzens' attack, the Rapids swooped in, handed NYCFC a bundle of cash and traded for Lewis.
"I had a chance that I could make a difference on this Colorado team, so I was actually very happy," Lewis told MLSsoccer.com about the trade. "Everybody looks at it like going to the last place team, but now we’re not in last place. I knew from my first training session that we had good players.”
Lewis, preparing for his first encounter with his former team on Saturday (9 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, DAZN in Canada), has no interest in litigating whether or not he got a fair shake of playing time while in the Big Apple.
“That’s for other people to judge," Lewis said. "I’m just happy to be in Colorado where I’m getting a good run of games. Everybody has different opinions about it. I think that’s for the outside to judge.”
In fact, Lewis doesn't have much interest in looking back at all. He's firmly focused on the Rapids, now and in the future.
“There’s a lot of young players that are really good, a lot of pieces," Lewis said. "I’m excited. This gives me an opportunity to prove to some of the guys that not only can I play here, but I can be a high-level player. People from the outside might think, 'This guy couldn’t play consistently in New York.' This is where I can show that I can play in the national team and be one of the better young players in MLS.”
The trade marked a significant investment from Colorado: $650,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and a a 2020 international roster slot. It also served as a vote of confidence for the 22-year-old.
“That’s just the price New York put on me," Lewis said. "The fact that (Colorado) were interested in me showed that they were willing to give me a chance, not only to trade for me, but almost to change the system to accommodate me. They had the belief. Regardless of the price tag, even if it was free, they just saw something in me.”
The last few months have pushed Lewis.
He made his USMNT debut in January, assisting in each of his first two games from the bench. He was called up again in March, when the player pool widened and Gregg Berhalter could draw from European-based players. Berhalter saw enough from Lewis to keep him around.
“I learned a lot about myself, especially at the Gold Cup," Lewis said. "I have work to do to make it to the top level. Everybody has aspirations, you know? I believe in myself that I can do it, but I also have a lot of work.”
On Saturday, Lewis' history with NYCFC has no bearing on his mind. But if it's just another game, will Lewis celebrate should he score for a fourth consecutive game?
“I don’t know,” Lewis said before he paused to ponder. Perhaps it was the first time he considered it. “I don’t think so. I have respect for the guys there, no hard feelings. Again, hopefully it’d be just another goal in another game."
Autore: Stefano Bentivogli
Other news - News
Other news
- 13:35 One absent for New York City FC for the trip to Charlotte
- 13:29 New York City FC 2024 team numbers confirmed
- 16:52 Three Keys of NYCFC 0-0 Red Bulls
- 16:23 NYCFC 0-0 Red Bulls, Cushing: "Incredible atmosphere at Yankee Stadium"
- 01:20 The Knicks can sacrifice Immanuel Quickley for a star
- 00:01 Maxi Moralez: "I can't wait to be reunited with the fans"
- 23:00 Maxi Moralez back to NYCFC: "I couldn’t be more excited"
- 22:03 David Lee: "Maxi will bring leadership and experience to our group"
- 22:00 OFFICIAL - Maxi Moralez Returns to New York City Football Club
- 13:00 David Lee: "We're excited to integrate Fernandez into the team"
- 07:20 NYCFC Signs Argentinian Forward Julián Fernández
- 15:30 Bernardeschi can leave Toronto: there is interest from an Italian club
- 14:30 Los Angeles Galaxy crazy offer to Hriving Lozano
- 13:42 CR7: "Saudi Pro League is much better than the MLS"
- 18:44 NYCFC, failing season. The trend needs to be reversed
- 17:27 Birk Risa: "I'm happy to be here, I can't wait to get started"
- 15:39 OFFICIAL - NYCFC Signs Norwegian Defender Birk Risa
- 13:44 Taty Castellanos moves to Lazio
- 13:40 Inter Miami, Alba también se sumará al proyecto
- 23:36 OFFICIAL - Inter Miami, Gerardo Martino named new coach
- 22:58 Timothy Weah has landed in Turin, he will be a Juventus player
- 22:56 OFFICIAL - Kai Havertz is a new Arsenal player
- 15:30 Bayern Munich on Kane, there is an agreement on the contract but not the one with Tottenham
- 14:30 West Ham reject Arsenal's third offer for Rice. Manchester City are considering withdrawing from the auction
- 13:24 Mbappé at Real, the striker's mother-agent is the key: she will be the one to deal with PSG
- 19:15 OFFICIAL - "Welcome to Finnesota". Center forward Pukki restarts from MLS
- 19:13 OFFICIAL - Mateo Kovacic leaves Chelsea and signs with Man City
- 18:30 AC Milan wants Pulisic. Berhalter advises the US midfielder
- 18:00 West Ham: 100 million not enough for Declan Rice, rejected offers from Arsenal and Man City
- 17:30 Timothy Weah moves to Italy
- 17:00 NYCFC may pursue former Vancouver Whitecaps player
- 16:30 Antoine Griezmann wants to play in MLS and rejects the offer from Saudi Arabia
- 15:59 Keaton Parks: "I'm happy to be able to do goal and assist"
- 15:32 Bayern Munich, formal offer for Harry Kane
- 15:23 Andrea Pirlo returns to Italy, signs with Sampdoria
- 13:28 Manchester City's Champions League win could impact NYCFC's future
- 12:00 James Sands Selected To Represent The USMNT At The 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup
- 08:30 Lionel Messi lands in the MLS: pros and cons
- 23:48 Real Salt Lake vs NYCFC: one player unavailable for Cushing
- 23:46 NYCFC, Cushing: “We’re Desperate For The First Road Win"
- 22:34 MLS statement on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF
- 21:54 OFFICIAL - Messi is a new player of Inter Miami FC
- 19:09 Messi's signing with Inter Miami FC