DC United to Exercise Purchase Option for Gabriel Pirani from Santos FC

HARRISON, NJ - AUGUST 20: D.C. United midfielder Gabriel Pirani #10 shoots during the 2023 Major League Soccer match against New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on August 20, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress)
HARRISON, NJ - AUGUST 20: D.C. United midfielder Gabriel Pirani #10 shoots during the 2023 Major League Soccer match against New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on August 20, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress)

DC United, one of the most iconic clubs in Major League Soccer (MLS), is poised to make a decision that could have significant implications for its future: confirming its intent to exercise the purchase option for Gabriel Pirani, the promising Brazilian midfielder loaned from Santos FC.

Highly reliable sources within DC United have revealed to MLS Multiplex that the club is more than inclined to secure Pirani’s stay in their squad after the loan expires, expected in December 2023. This decision, though it may seem premature at first glance, is a manifestation of the confidence the coaching staff and management have placed in the 21-year-old talent.

Gabriel Pirani arrived in the United States capital with high expectations, but his initial performance was not marked by impressive goal and assist numbers. DC United’s coach, Wayne Rooney, acknowledges Pirani’s undeniable potential and believes that, with time and adjustment to the MLS style of play, the player can become a crucial piece in the team’s offensive game.

HARRISON, NJ – AUGUST 20: D.C. United midfielder Gabriel Pirani #10 (L) fights for the ball against New York Red Bulls Andres Reyes #4 at Red Bull Arena on August 20, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress)
HARRISON, NJ – AUGUST 20: D.C. United midfielder Gabriel Pirani #10 (L) fights for the ball against New York Red Bulls Andres Reyes #4 at Red Bull Arena on August 20, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress)

It’s important to note that the decision to exercise the purchase option is not just a bet on Pirani’s development but also an investment in the club’s future, both financially and in terms of soccer. DC United sees the Brazilian not only as a player capable of shining on American pitches but also as an asset that can appreciate considerably over the next few years.

Pirani’s adaptation to soccer in the United States has been a gradual process. However, internal sources within the club have revealed that the player has shown an exemplary attitude and remarkable determination to improve his performance with each match. With the prospect of preseason approaching, the coaching staff is eager to work more closely with Pirani, identify areas of development, and enhance his skills to make him an even more complete and effective athlete on the field.

While DC United may not be reaping immediate rewards from the signing of Gabriel Pirani, the decision to exercise the purchase option represents a solid commitment to the club’s long-term growth. The talent and potential of the Brazilian midfielder could be the key to a lasting era of success in the MLS, with DC United aspiring to establish itself as a formidable force in the competition in the years ahead. Betting on Pirani’s development is undoubtedly a deliberate strategy toward an even brighter future for the club in the North American league.