Minnesota United add promising Honduran youth star

A general view of Allianz Field, the home of Minnesota United in MLS. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
A general view of Allianz Field, the home of Minnesota United in MLS. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Minnesota United make a deal for Joseph Rosales

Minnesota United has acquired Honduran youth international Joseph Rosales the club announced on Friday. The deal is an 18-month loan.

More from MLS Multiplex

Rosales is a right-sided midfielder who is part of his nation’s U20 and U23 national team. He joins the MLS side from Independiente, where he played in Panama’s top flite.

He is yet another attacking piece for head coach Adrian Heath’s side as they head down the stretch run in MLS.

“The first time we noticed the young man was during Olympic qualifiers,” Minnesota United head Adrian Heath said via a press release from the team.

“He held his own against the USMNT midfield and one of our own in Hassani Dotson. He was one of the main reasons the Honduran national team qualified for the Olympics and that’s meaningful. He’s a versatile player with massive upside. He’s played some left back as well as centrally in the midfield. He’s another one with a high motor, willing to do all the work needed on the field. We are truly pleased to be able to bring him into our club and see where his potential leads.”

In the aforementioned Olympic qualifying earlier this year, Rosales made three appearances in the five-game run where Honduras qualified for the tournament. He made two starts and played a total of 177 minutes.

He did not make Honduras’ final Olympic roster for the games in Tokyo.

After a rocky start to the season where they lost their first four games, Heath’s Minnesota United has rebounded nicely. They have just one loss in their last 12 matches and have seen their form carry them to sixth place in the Western Conference on a 6-5-5 record (23 points).

Minnesota United host the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night. They are coming off consecutive 2-2 results against Los Angeles FC and then last weekend against the Vancouver Whitecaps.