Diego Luna on personal missions, changing positions and European ambitions

He may only be 20 years old, but Real Salt Lake forward Diego Luna has packed a lot into his young career.

At the age of 12 he joined the youth team of the San Jose Earthquakes, before winning a place at the prestigious Barcelona Residency Academy in Arizona. He progressed through the Spanish club’s academy and signed his first professional contract with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive in 2021.

Luna impressed in EL Paso and, after scoring 13 goals in a year-and-a-half, was picked up by Real Salt Lake in 2022. He spent a brief spell with MLS Next Pro side Real Monarchs before establishing himself in the senior team last summer; by the time the playoffs arrived he was a first-choice option for Pablo Mastroeni.

But even after all that - a meteoric rise that has caught the attention of numerous European clubs - the 20-year-old is only just getting started. Speaking at the MLS 2024 Media Day, he outlined his plans for the new season.

“Personally, I want to be the top goalscorer, top assist-maker for the team. To be the guy that the team can rely on when things get tough.”

“As a group I think we just need to stay together, as a collective, with that hard work and dogged mentality that we have. Once we get our mindset right all our attributes and the players we have are definitely good enough to put on a show this year.”

Luna wants to take more central role

Balanced, that’s how Diego Luna looks on the field. Not just ‘balanced’ in the sense of remaining upright, although that is certainly true of the youngster. He boasts a well-balanced set of skills, a deep toolbox of everything that the modern offensive player needs.

He can attack with pace and directness but plays with a calmness on the ball. He dribbles in erratic spurts but shows real composure when faced with a sight of goal. He knows, intuitively, when to slow things down and when to speed up.

That coNFLuence of abilities has allowed him to play in a number of positions in his young career. His Real Salt Lake breakthrough came as a left winger and he has been deployed as a central striker or a box-to-box midfielder for the US national team. But despite that versatility, Luna is in no doubt as to his favoured position.

“It’s always good to play in different positions and be versatile. The coach has more options and it gives the player more options, but I think my best position, the one where I’m most useful, is in the Number 10. I think playing as an attacking mid is where I can play the best and shine the brightest.”

He revealed that he has spoken to RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni about it in the off-season. The departure of Jefferson Savarino has reduced Luna’s competition for a more central role and the 20-year-old looks set to benefit.

“Coming into this year I’m going to be utilised in a more proper way and that’s something I’m excited about, to be able to showcase myself more. We’ve had conversations [about playing No. 10] and it’s definitely something that I’m excited for. I’m ready to put on a show this year.”

All-round growth

Luna’s Real Salt Lake begin the MLS campaign on the biggest stage in North American soccer. There is no current venue that captures the global spotlight like Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, the current home of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and more. Miami begin the season as many experts’ favourites to clinch the MLS Cup and that season opener will draw a massive audience around the world.

For Luna it’s a suitable stage for his outsized talents, a chance to go head-to-head with one of the all-time greats in their own back yard.

But for all his talk of shining brightly and putting on a show, there is a pragmatism to all that Luna promises. His work ethic and focus are among the qualities most commonly praised by coaches and teammates, a sign that he is well-set to continue his meteoric rise.

Although predominately an attacking player Luna has put real effort into bolstering his defensive abilities. In RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni he has a teacher that will help him improve the defensive side of his Game.

Mastroeni was a defensive midfielder during his 18-year playing career and he has brought that pragmatic inclination to his coaching life. His teams are built upon a well-drilled, condensed defensive structure with a smattering of creative forwards with greater freedom to improvise. Luna looks well-suited to both sides of Mastroeni’s RSL gameplan.

“It’s been really good and it’s shown. My defensive side was something that I needed to work on and I think I’ve done that, it’s given me the chance to perform better and be a better all-round player. It’s also helped me to play with the national team and get better opportunities in different situations, whether that be in Europe or here.”

Luna admits that playing in Europe is “a goal” in his fledgling career and, with so much of it still ahead of him, he has every chance of achieving it. The RSL forward is a supreme young talent but it is his clear-mindedness, both on and off the field, that is particularly striking.

When he plays Luna looks composed, in-tune to the rhythm of the game and ready in the decisive moments. It’s similar to how he talks, too; focused on what is important, eyes fixed on the goal.

You can watch Real Salt Lake take on Inter Miami on Wednesday with the MLS Season Pass on AppleTV.