Report: Argentine attacker Lucas Rodriguez to sign with DC United

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Reports

It appears D.C. United‘s move for Argentine winger Lucas Rodriguez is near completion, according to a new report out of Argentina.

Last Thursday, The Washington Post‘s Steven Goff first reported that the Argentine U-20 national team player from Estudiantes was close to joining D.C. on a loan deal. Now Argentine journalist Cesar Luis Merlo tweeted on Christmas Day that Estudiantes had agreed with D.C. to a loan with an option for a permanent transfer.

Estudiantes de La Plata acordó de palabra el pase de Lucas Rodríguez al DC United. Sorprendentemente, una de las figuras del “Pincha” se va a préstamo con cargo y opción de compra. pic.twitter.com/IT84IwQyqw

— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) December 25, 2018

If true, that wouldn’t necessarily mean the deal is final. Goff’s report notes that Atlanta United — D.C.’s home opener opponent on March 3 — reportedly owns Rodriguez’s discovery rights and would require compensation should D.C. move forward with the signing. 

Rodriguez, once a teammate of current Black-and-Red standout Luciano Acosta, is a versatile attacker who can play as a central midfielder or second forward as well as either wing. He has played 112 matches in all club competitions since 2015, starting 59. If signed, Rodriguez would join fellow Argentines Acosta and Yamil Asad, as part of a tradition of Argentines at D.C. dating back to the club’s inaugural season, and including mid-2000s notables Cristian Gomez and Marcello Gallardo.