The busy offseason for the Carolina RailHawks continued on Thursday, as they announced the acquisition of Uruguayan International midfielder Marcelo Romero. The move is still pending league and USSF approval, as well as international clearance. 

Romero said he had become interested in playing in the United States when the Score One Soccer agency worked as a liasion between new head coach Martin Rennie and Romero.

“Marcelo was available and he was interesed in playing in the U.S. and had the opportunities to play in the MLS,” Rennie said. “Once he came and visited here and understood our market. There’s a big Hispanic market here and there’s a lot of potential for us to develop a good team.”

Romero said he was “extremely happy to start play in the United States and in the Cary market.

“I am hungry to have success here; we need to match these brilliant facilities with the team on the field,” Romero said. “I hope at the end of the year we will all be together celebrating great success.”

To date, the RailHawks have brought in seven new players since Rennie was introduced in November. Rennie said there was a common thread in his new players: talent and determination.

“One key thing is, they’re really determined to do well. When Marcelo came here and saw this he said ‘This is amazing, but unless we have a good team it won’t matter,’” Rennie said.

“I’m trying to get guys with that desire to win, and to me that’s the key ingredient. They’ve got great talent, but they’re hungry to win.”

It’s clear from the excitement in RailHawks camp that Romero is the headliner of the group.

“Most players can only dream of playing in a top European league and representing their country in the World Cup, but Marcelo has done this and more,” Rennie said. “He has developed his skills against some of the best known players in the world and has worked under some fantastic coaches. It is important for us to have some experienced players in our squad and Marcelo certainly brings that.”

Romero won three Uruguayan National Titles from 1996-2001. In 2001, Marcelo transferred to Malaga of Spain’s La Liga Primera División (Spanish First Division) where he won the La Liga “Best Player in his Role” award in 2002 and 2005.

Also while there, he had the chance to play alongside soccer superstars Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldinho.

The current deal on the table is for Romero to be a RailHawk for two seasons. That deal has not been finalized, but Romero said he will certainly be a RailHawk this year when the season starts on March 14.