Emiliano Rigoni: 3 things to know about Austin FC's newest player

Sebastian Driussi has been reunited with former teammate and Argentina native Emiliano Rigoni on Austin FC.

Rigoni joined the team on July 29 under a designated player contract that runs through the 2024 MLS season, with options for the following two seasons. Financial terms were not disclosed, but ESPN reported that Austin FC and Sao Paulo FC agreed a $4 million fee.

In nine years of professional soccer in Europe and South America, the 29-year-old forward has played in more than 300 games, scoring 55 goals and accounted for 36 assists, according to Austin FC. He arrived in Austin weeks later after receiving a visa to cheers from supporters days before his team faces LAFC, who sit in first place in the Western Conference ahead of Austin FC.

Here's what you need to know about Rigoni with few games left in regular season.

Sebastian Driussi, Emiliano Rigoni were teammates on FC Zenit Saint Petersburg

After four years of playing in the Argentine Primera División, Rigoni moved across the Atlantic to play in the Russian Premier League in 2017. It was with FC Zenit Saint Petersburg that he was joined with Sebastian Driussi. The two became fast friends on a team made up largely of Russian players.

In an introductory press conference with Austin FC, Rigoni said their chemistry came naturally.

In an Instagram post, Driussi welcomed his friend to Austin.

Rigoni was loaded to Atalanta B.C in the Italian Serie A league during the 2018 season before being brought back to Russia in early 2019. The two helped leading the team to the Russian championship, the franchise's fifth.

Rigoni was loaned to another Italian squad, U.C. Sampdoria following that season before being brought back to the Russian team again in early 2020. He joined Drussi in leading the team to another championship that year, too. Driussi would stay with team and capture yet another league championship in 2021, but Rigoni moved on.

He played for a year with Elche in the Spain's La Liga in 2020 and with São Paulo FC in Campeonato Paulista league in Brazil in 2021.

Why is he No. 77 for Austin FC?

During FC's press conference, gave a simple answer why he chose the No. 77, saying it was the number he used with his last team in Brazil. He scored 4 goals and accounted for five assists during his last season.

"Hopefully number 77 will bring good stuff here in Austin," Rigoni said through an interpreter.

Austin FC's head coach Josh Wolff have to say about Emiliano Rigoni?

Head coach Josh Wolff said his team is excited to have Rigoni, saying he is hopefully he can play in team's remaining regular season games

"Good players, high quality players understand the game at a high level and once he stars playing, I don't think there's any doubts what he can do," Wolff said."

Wolff highlighted Rigoni's attacking skills, saying his expertise would provide "balance on both sides of the field."

Watch Wolff and Rigoni's full comments in their press conference here:

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Emiliano Rigoni: Austin FC player played with Sebestian Driussi before