D.C. United: Lucas Rodriguez adds depth to high-powered offense

D.C. United have secured Lucas Rodriguez on a season-long loan. The young midfielder, who can play in several positions, adds crucial depth to D.C.’s high-powered offense.

A big signing came right before the new year for D.C. United supporters on Monday. The Eastern Conference club announced the year-long loan of midfielder Lucas Rodriguez. Primarily a winger, Rodriguez will join D.C. from Estudiantes de La Plata of Argentina’s top flight.

The 21-year-old will have a great opportunity to further develop in Major League Soccer as this will be his first time playing away from Argentina.

Rodriguez has spent his entire professional career with Estudiantes up to this point. An under-20 product of the club, the attacking midfielder was brought up to the senior team in 2015.

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During the recent season with Estudiantes, Rodriguez played in 15 matches in the Primera Division and eight appearances in the Copa Libertadores. In total, he has made 91 appearances for the club with eight goals and five assists. At the international level, Rodriguez played in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup for Argentina. He played in three matches during the competition.

It’s clear to see why Estudiantes would want to choose D.C. as the destination for Rodriguez’s loan spell. With the likes of Wayne Rooney headlining the attack, the young player will get to work with one of the best strikers of the past decade in world football. There are few better places to continue your career development.

With the emergence of Paul Arriola, Yamil Asad and Luciano Acosta, Rodriguez will have three other playmakers to learn from and work with throughout the 2019 season. Rodriguez’s contract also ends in 2020 with Estudiantes so this could be a long-term move if all works out well.

Having a young talent like Rodriguez provides more than just talent to the D.C. United roster. The attacker will certainly help add more pace and creativity to D.C.’s already powerful attack that helped lead their resurgence in 2018. He is also versatile, offering great depth at a variety of positions across the front line.

Ideally, Rodriguez would be featured at either left or right wing. He might not be the best goalscorer but he is a player who can help create plays and offer service from the wings. With a target like Rooney in the box, he will have plenty of opportunities to rack up the assists.

As D.C. look to build off of their incredible comeback in the second half of last season, adding Rodriguez will help them get back to their goal of the reaching the postseason and possibly a run at the Eastern Conference title. Depth in attacking position is important. Rodriguez provides precisely that.