LA Saga Exclusive Interview: American Soccer Phenom Gianluca Busio on the Past, the Present, and a Future With No Limit
So good, so young. This is the theme that always seems to arise when you search for Gianluca Busio. He ranks ninth on MLS’s annual 22 under 22 list – and is the highest-ranking 18-year-old. He was the third-youngest starter in MLS history – and got the match-winning assist in his first game. He’s appeared on the U-17 United States Men’s National Team in the CONCACAF championship and the FIFA World Cup – and was the second-leading or leading scorer in both events respectively. The list goes on; I could talk about market value (4.4 million dollars) or rumored moves to Europe’s finest clubs (including Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona) all day. Instead, I’ll take a look at where he came from, where he’s at, and where he’s going in a Los Angeles Saga Exclusive Interview with the man himself.
I, too, was born and raised in Greensboro. In fact, I’m the same age Gianluca Busio was when he left for Kansas City and started his MLS journey. Because of that, he is an inspiration, and to see someone from where I am from, find so much success is simply amazing. It was great sitting down, talking to him, and hearing his story. He came across as humble, and, while it might not be as obvious just reading it, felt very genuine. I hope you can take as much away from this interview as I have.
The following questions and answers are lightly edited for clarity. These edits are not specifically noted, but they are all very minor.
Busio with the Fusion as a child (via North Carolina Fusion)
Gianluca Busio’s career started in Greensboro, North Carolina, training with small, recreational clubs and eventually the North Carolina Fusion. He had natural talent and was always a star, but had no idea what laid ahead.
Austin Setzler (LA Saga): Let’s start back in Greensboro. At what point were you like, “I’m really good at soccer,” and at what point did that turn into, “I can maybe play professionally and make a career out of this?”
Gianluca Busio: For me, I would probably say my first national team camp. The best players in the country all, at a certain age, go to Florida or someplace and they all meet up and play games against other countries, and my first one was when I was fourteen. That was when I was still playing in Greensboro, so when I made my first camp and I went to go play with those guys, I kinda realized that I’m just as good as these guys, if not better than some of them. That made me realize that I can do this also and that I can do that at a higher level. Once that hit, that was when I started pushing a little harder to try and make it to the next level. Eventually, I moved to Kansas City, and I played a year on the academy. At the end of that year, you know, I had a really good season and I realized that being pro was a lot closer than I thought. I’d probably say about midseason of my first academy year was when I actually realized that I could make it pro and eventually it happened. I was really young when I really put my mind to trying to make it as a pro.
Busio with his host family (via Sporting Kansas City Academy)
As a teenager, Busio chose to leave his family in Greensboro and move in with a host family in Kansas City. Sporting KC was not the only possibility but was chosen after visits to interested MLS clubs. He trained at the academy there, where he found success.
AS: What went into the decision to move to Kansas City, to move to a whole new world, practically, when you aren’t sure that you can necessarily make a living out of soccer?
GB: It was really difficult. When I was fourteen, so I was really young, I realized that, you know, Greensboro is great and I love it, but soccer-wise, if I want to make the next step, they don’t have as much money as other teams, they don’t have the things I need to make it to the next step. At the age where I wanted to make the next step, I realized that I have to go to an MLS team, and I looked around, and some clubs reached out to me, and playing with other guys who were on MLS teams, it showed that they’re at a higher level. For me, I just realized that I had to make the jump. The decision was easy on the soccer part but, obviously, the hard part is leaving your family and friends, and basically starting a whole new life by yourself. That was definitely the hardest part, but my family was supportive of me and wanted what was best for me. They traveled with me to these places to help figure out what I liked the most, and I think Kansas was the best for me. It felt like home when I first got there, and, the soccer was good. The people that I met especially were just, you know, I could really tell that this was a place for me. What made the decision a lot easier was just being in that atmosphere and knowing that this is a place I can live, and not only for soccer. The area, the schools, and everything else made the decision a lot easier, even though it was a really tough decision.
“It’s always gonna be a Kid from Greensboro who wants to make it somehow.”
AS: Even though you moved away at such a young age, is Greensboro still home, and do you feel like you’re representing Greensboro out on the pitch?
GB: Yeah. I would say Kansas is a real close second right now, and I’ll call it my home but, you know, my real home I would say is Greensboro. All my family and friends who really gave me the foundation to be the person I am today, the player I am today, it all started in my home in Greensboro, and with my family supporting me and all my friends supporting me, that’s where it started. I’ll never forget that, so that’ll always be home to me no matter where I go or how big I get or how far I go, that’ll always be the home, and I’ll always remember that as the place where I started playing soccer and really loving the game is from Greensboro, playing in my backyard, or playing rec games with my best friends. That really showed that I have a love for the game, and no matter where I go with this career, it’s always gonna be a kid from Greensboro who wants to make it somehow.
Busio scores at the academy in Kansas City, circa early 2017 (via The Kansas City Star)
In Kansas City, Busio went to an academy with similarly talented players and trained with them. Everyone tried to prove they had what it takes, but not all of them did. While some, like Busio, eventually would make Sporting Kansas City, many would never be able to play at that high level.
AS: What was it like going from Greensboro, where you had dominated the competition all your life, to Kansas City, where you’re fighting for your job and many of the players were just as talented as you?
GB: Like I said, Greensboro was awesome and the team was fun, but it was more of a “just for fun” kinda thing. I was just playing with my friends and everything, and obviously I was a lot better than them. So, growing up, I was used to being the best guy on the field at all times, and sometimes you don’t have to work as hard as others, because you just have that naturally, or you have the talent more than others, but, you know, when I went to Kansas, it hit me a little bit. The first couple months were difficult because I wasn’t playing that much, first of all, and, you know, coming from where I’m the star of the team to not playing at all and actually having to work every day for your spot, it hit me a little bit. I think you can either run from it, and a lot of guys that don’t make it in the end are guys who have the talent, but they get a little of adversity and they back away from it. But for me, I took it as, okay, I’m just as talented as them so I need to add the other part of my game, which is working hard every day. Once I added that, it really took off for me because I was just as talented as everybody, if not more, and I had the hard work in me, so that really pushed me to the next step, but, at the start it was difficult. It was a really big change for me, but it was very, very necessary for what I wanted to achieve.
"The little things matter more because everybody there had the talent."
AS: Obviously, everyone at the academy in Kansas City was really good at soccer, but what were the intangibles that separated those that were going to make maybe the second team versus those that were going to play for Sporting Kansas City?
GB: I think it’s just the dedication and how serious you are about it. There are some guys who live in Kansas City and play for the academy and there are some guys, like me, who move in, and to really separate those guys, you know, we all do the same work, we all have to show up at the same time, and we all play the same games, but it’s the guys who are going to do extra, the guys who are going to show up early and the guys who are going to do extra in the weight room, stuff like that, and you can tell. Obviously, the team is all good, everybody’s good enough to be there, but it’s who’s going to do more, to take the next step, and who wants it more, and who’s beating you in practice, stuff like that. The little things matter more because everybody there had the talent, everybody’s just as talented as you. There may be some guys who are just gifted, and have it in them, but for me, it was just the guys who wanted it more, and really wanted to make the next step, you could tell, and that’s what separated them, really.
Busio juggles the ball in his Sporting KC kit in 2018 (via Sporting Kansas City)
At 15 years and 89 days old, Busio became the second-youngest player ever to sign an MLS contract. Less than a year later, he became the third-youngest player to start an MLS match, and the second-youngest to record an assist, something he did in his first start (he assisted the sole goal in a 1-0 win).
AS: When did you feel as if you had “made it,” and when did you begin to think of yourself as a professional soccer player?
GB: I think, for me, I still look at it as I haven’t made it, I would say. I always look further ahead, and where I want to be, and my goals in the future are way bigger than just the MLS right now. I want to work towards more, and I feel like I’ll never be satisfied until I really feel like I’ve done what I wanted to. When it kind of hit me the most, I would say, was probably my debut. I think when you first sign, that’s kind of the start of it, and you can say you’re a professional, but I think once you really get in the game, and, you know, the fans are all screaming, and you’re playing against another professional team, that’s when it really hit me. Right after my debut I was kinda like, okay, I’m a professional player now, and I really made it to this step. It was pretty cool, and it was a special moment for me, because you dream about moments like that, but, like I said, for me I don’t ever really feel like I made it until I get where I want to be and I feel like I don’t want to be satisfied or settle for anything right now.
“I went in with the mindset that, you know, I want to go in and change the game.”
AS: What was it like to get the match-deciding assist in your very first start?
GB: It’s one thing to get in a game and just be there, and just play ninety minutes and call it a day, but for me, I went in with the mindset that, you know, I want to go in and change the game, I don’t want [people to just say] “He played, he’s the whatever, youngest to make his debut, and he played,” but I wanted to do something that really affected the game. It came eventually and I knew that I could do it. I always back myself to try to score goals or get assists because that’s what I enjoy the most. I’m an attacking player so I enjoy scoring or assisting, and it took a while, you know, it happened late in the game, but once it happened, it was unreal really. It was surreal for me because I always dreamed of scoring professional goals and getting assists like that, and after that it was a really special moment for me, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was just really big for me to do that, especially in my first game.
Busio (fifth from left, pink cleats) and teammates celebrate advancing to the quarterfinals of the MLS Is Back tournament (via theScore)
Another stand-out moment was scoring the final penalty at the MLS Is Back Tournament (against the Vancouver Whitecaps). It was a win-or-go-home game, but Busio’s penalty was nearly perfect (Vancouver’s goalkeeper dove the right way but couldn’t quite get there), and Sporting Kansas City advanced.
AS: What was going through your head right before you took that penalty kick?
GB: I think penalties are definitely really nerve-racking. I’ve taken multiple penalties in my career, but, penalties, no matter when it is, if it’s regular time, overtime, or a penalty shootout, whenever it is, you get a lot of nerves. For me, I try to just zone in and think of it as, “I’m playing in my backyard.” I go up with the mindset that, if I put this where I want to, no matter what goalie’s in goal, they can’t save it. I went up there, I picked my spot before I even put the ball down, and I put it exactly where I wanted to. The goalie had a good chance to save it, but, like I said, you know, if I go in there with confidence and knowing that I can score this, and I’ve done it multiple times, I already had that advantage. That was a very nerve-racking moment, and looking back at it, I was a lot more nervous than I made it seem, but like I said, it just takes a lot of practice, and practice games, and, you know, when you’re just messing around, to take those moments serious, because you never know when you’ll get a chance like that. I just try to zone in and focus on myself in those moments.
Busio (#7) and teammates in a CONCACAF matchup against Canada (via US Soccer)
Busio hasn’t just been successful for his club, he has also made appearances for the U-15, U-17, and U-20 United States Men’s National Team squads, and is seemingly on track to make the senior team at some point.
AS: Does it feel different when you are representing your country out on the field instead of a club team?
GB: Yeah, for sure. Playing with your national team is a whole ‘nother experience. It’s an honor, really, because you’re with the best of the best. It’s not just players in your club setting, it’s players [from] all around the country and it’s really special. You’re playing against other countries and representing your country, and for me that was a goal of mine, and a goal of mine eventually to make it to the men’s national team. Even representing the youth teams, it’s an unreal experience, and I think every player, young, old, the men’s national team, the youth national team, I think every player, every soccer player wants to represent their country in some kind of way, and for me I’ve been lucky enough to do it in youth settings, and hopefully the real national team soon, but every time I put on the jersey, you play with more passion and you want to really do your country well.
Busio sports a Black Lives Matter shirt as he juggles the ball in 2020 (via The Blue Testament)
In the last couple of years, Busio has been rumored to join major clubs across the continent of Europe, with Kansas City turning down multi-million dollar bids from Italian clubs at one point. The most recent rumors are perhaps the most exciting: Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona. Busio, though, has said before, that he is fine with where he is for now.
AS: Is it a goal at some point to play for a major European club or would you be content with a career entirely in the MLS?
GB: Yeah. I think I’ve been very open to that. Everybody has asked me, and I’ve said many times that it’s my goal in the end to make it in Europe. Like you said, I’m happy with where I am now, but what I’m always working towards is making the next step and looking forward to what’s next for me. Obviously, I love Kansas, and I love playing here, and I’m happy with where I’m at, but the next step for me would be trying and making it to Europe. With all the rumors and everything going around, it’s pretty cool for me that it feels like I’m really close to making that next step, to making it to where I want to be. Everytime I play here, it’s with the goal to make it to the next step eventually, and that is Europe for me. And like I said, I’m never in a rush to get there. Obviously, if the time is right and it happens next week I’ll be happy and try to do my best, but if it’s a couple years from now or ten years from now, you never know, I’ll be happy with it, just, I want to make the jump eventually and hopefully do well enough there to where I can continue.
This would not have been possible without a few individuals who helped me get in touch with Gianluca, so thank you to those people. His mother and agent, Dionne Busio, and family friend Peter Martinek-Jenne were especially helpful. And, of course, thank you to Gianluca for taking time out of a very busy schedule to do this interview.
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