RW – Lucas Melano – Unattached
Argentinian winger Lucas Melano only joined the Timbers in the July of their 2015 campaign, but he became a major part of their attacking plans down the right side. Melano’s playing career started in his home country with Belgrano. He played 44 times for the side over three seasons, before transferring to Lanús.
He scored eight times in 42 league games for the Granate. He was part of the team that won the Copa Sudamericana in 2013. Melano signed for Portland in July 2015 and became the starting right-winger for the Timbers in their post-season run. He started four of their six playoff games, including the MLS Cup final, and was a constant threat down the right-wing.
The Argentinian fell out of favour with manager Caleb Porter, and was sent back to his home country on loan, and back where it all began, Belgrano. A further loan deal followed with Estudiantes, where he scored on his first league appearance in the 2017-18 season. He played 35 league games in Argentina over his two loan spells before returning to Portland.
Melano played seven games on his return to the Timbers set-up in 2018, and then made a further eight appearances for the team in the 2019 season, but has recently been released after agreeing to a mutual termination of his contract from the club.