U.S. Pro-40 signee Mario Longo has been claimed by the Columbus Crew using the league’s new lottery process instituted prior to the 2000 season. “Mario is a big, strong player, and we’re happy the lottery system has run its course and that he’ll be able to continue his development with the Crew,” said Columbus Head Coach Tom Fitzgerald. “Tactically Mario is very good and he has a lot of savvy on the ball. He puts himself in excellent positions on the field.” Longo, 19, officially signed with Project-40 on April 1, and has appeared for Pro-40 Head Coach Alfonso Mondelo in three of the team’s A-League matches, scoring the injury time game-winner in a 2-1 win over Orange County on May 5 A native of Apex, N.C., Longo was granted a tryout with the youth team of the Italian club Napoli in 1996. He was offered a youth contract that allowed him to train exclusively in the Napoli system for the next two seasons while living with relatives and attending school in Naples. He returned to the United States in 1999, and caught Fitzgerald’s eye while training with Columbus during MLS Spring Training 2000. Longo Bio: Mario Longo Born: 12/3/80. Hometown: Apex, NC. Pos: Midfielder. Ht: 5-11. Wt: 168. MLS Team: Columbus Crew. U.S. Pro-40: Has appeared in three games, starting one … Scored the stoppage-time game-winner in the 2-1 win over Orange County on 5/5, his first goal as a member of Pro-40 … Made his P-40 debut, starting and playing 45 minutes on April 9 at Orange County … The newest member of U.S. Pro-40 signed on April 1 … Longo trained during the preseason with Columbus before joining U.S. Pro-40 for its opening weekend on the West Coast … Has played mostly as a central or attacking midfielder with other teams … Pro Experience: Was invited to join Napoli’s youth team in Aug. 1996 after only four days of tryouts … Moved to Naples and lived with relatives while training and playing with the club’s youth team for two years … Paperwork difficulties in February ’97 prompted him to return home in March … Rejoined the club the following August, signing a youth agreement with Napoli lasting until his 18th birthday … Napoli’s imminent relegation from the Serie A following the ’97-’98 season prompted coaching changes within the club, creating further complications … Longo also was granted tryouts and saw time within the the developmental systems of both Norwich and Charlton of the English First Division before returning to the United States in 1999 … Prep: Attended Apex High School in Apex, North Carolina as a freshman and sophomore … Left Apex High during his sophomore year to earn a tryout with the youth team of Napoli … Finished his schooling in Italy, while training and playing with Napoli’s youth team … Played with North Carolina’s ODP Program since age 12 … Personal: The son of Mario and Lucia Longo … Has a younger brother Michael (17) and sister Mia (13) … Played club soccer as part of the Raleigh Capitals … Favorite team is Juventus, and favorite player is France’s World Cup hero Zinedine Zidane.