FaZe Clan reportedly looking to add ALEX from Team Vitality

Jared Wynne Published 02/07/2020

In-game leaders are a highly sought-after commodity in the current Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene right now and several teams are looking to fill that hole in their lineup.

With a number of squads lacking a seasoned captain, it should come as no surprise that Team Vitality’s Alex “ALEX” McMeekin is one of the most in-demand players in professional CSGO at the moment. One of the biggest names in need of a leader is FaZe Clan and according to 1pv, the team is in talks about adding ALEX.

FaZe initially had a hard time adjusting after the loss of in-game leader Finn “karrigan” Andersen in 2018. The star-studded squad has a long history of underachieving, but has been on an upswing of late thanks to strong performances in multiple online leagues and solid positioning in the European RMR circuit.

It seems as though FaZe is just one piece away from once again cementing itself as a top CSGO organization, and ALEX might just be that piece. The organization also has a hole in its roster right now following the departure of Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer Gustafsson. The team has been playing with Aurimas “Bymas” Pipiras as a stand-in.

The price tag on ALEX is quite steep, with Vitality reportedly asking for a $600,000 transfer fee. Despite that price tag Cloud9, FunPlus Phoenix, and c0ntact Gaming are also reportedly looking into signing ALEX.

ALEX seemingly done with Vitality for good

ALEX stepped down from Vitality’s roster in March, stating that the demanding lifestyle of a high-level professional CSGO player wasn’t fitting him anymore.

While this was a hard blow, Vitality quickly adapted by acquiring rising Kévin “misutaaa” Rabier and moving the experienced Dan “apEX” Madesclaire to the position of in-game leader. The move seemingly paid off, with Vitality posting solid results in multiple recent tournaments.

ALEX, although hailing from the United Kingdom, made a name for himself in the French competitive scene. Through his leadership Vitality reached new heights in 2019 and came close to being the top-ranked team in CSGO last year after a hot summer that included first-place finishes in ECS Season 7 and several other events.

Considering the current state of CSGO’s landscape, FaZe Clan is likely the front-runner for signing ALEX. The team has a history of throwing around significant amounts of cash to acquire top free agents and ALEX could be exactly what the team needs to reach the top.

Jared Wynne

About Jared Wynne

Jared Wynne is the Editor-in-Chief at WIN.gg, overseeing its content. He has been working in digital media for over two decades, most often in and around the gaming industry. His all-time favorite games include Baldur’s Gate, Doom, and Counter-Strike, but he’ll play just about anything that seems interesting. His previous credits include The Daily Dot, The Esports Observer, GameLand, and more.

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