Last year, Minnesota United made a splash with the signing of Emanuel Reynoso from Boca Juniors. This year, it might be another attacker joining the MLS club from ‘La Bombonera’ in Ramon Abila.
The rumor, coming out of South America, has Abila as a target to join Minnesota. The deal would be a loan with an option to buy according to the report.
Abila, a 31-year old forward, has been with Boca Juniors since 2017. This year in eight appearances, he has six goals and one assist for one of the biggest clubs in South America.
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Prior to his time with Boca, he was at Huracan, with a preceding spell at Brazilian club Cruzeiro. In his past four seasons at Boca, he has battled injuries and form issues but has a healthy 23 goals across four seasons.
If Abila were to make the move to MLS and Minnesota, he would be reunited with Reynoso, as the two shared the field together in Argentina at Boca. Last September, Minnesota signed Reynoso as a Designated Player in what was the largest transfer in the club’s history.
In 13 games last year (nine starts), Reynoso overcame a slow start to have a productive finish. While his goal and seven assists across the regular season and the playoffs was certainly far from disappointing, it was in the postseason in three playoff games where Reynoso shone with a goal and four assists.
The rumored addition of Abila would fill a roster need on Minnesota’s attack. This offseason, Minnesota sent leading scorer Darwin Quintero to the Houston Dynamo for a rather sizable $600,000 in allocation money plus wide player Marlon Hairston. Adding a player like Abila, who has significant experience in top leagues as well as Copa Libertadores, could help Minnesota take the next step.
Last season, their fourth in MLS, Minnesota advanced to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the Seattle Sounders, 3-2. Scoring wasn’t necessarily an issue for Minnesota, who finished last season seventh in the league with 36 goals. But they were middle of the pack with 100 shots on goal, something that head coach Adrian Heath would like to change.
A player like Abila could certainly help address the issues of creating and finishing chances for the ambitious side.
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer