Austin FC have officially finalized the transfer of Sebastián Driussi to River Plate in a deal that takes the 28-year-old Argentine back to the club he was brought through. Estimated to be valued at a price of $10 million, the departure by the attacking midfielder opens a DP spot for Verde & Black and ends a trajectory that — albeit brilliant in some sense — was already showing signs of decay.
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Driussi’s weight at Austin FC
Since his arrival in July 2021 from Zenit St. Petersburg, Sebastián Driussi became a central figure at Austin FC. He wasn’t just the first big name to bring relevance to the club in MLS. He scored a total of 51 goals in 115 matches.
The 2022 season was, without question, the Argentine's peak in Texas. With 22 goals and 7 assists, Driussi drove his team to the Western Conference Final, flirting with ultimate glory. He came close to being named the league's best player, finishing as the runner-up for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award. Naturally, the fans idolized him.
But soccer, like time, doesn't stop. During the last two years, the production of Driussi went down. He never was able to repeat the efficiency he had during 2022, and Austin FC paid the price, having missed the playoffs for a second year in a row. It was a period of change within the team, including a head coach change with Josh Wolff out and Nico Estévez coming in.
Goodbye and what it means emotionally
Driussi was the connection to the stands, the face of a project that faced up to the consolidation of the team among the MLS elite. In this sense, underlined by the sporting director Rodolfo Borrell: "Sebastián leaves Austin FC having made a tremendous impact on this club during his three and a half years here. He will always be welcomed back to Austin".
But in a sport in which constant evolution is so key, even icons must step aside for new chapters to be written.
Why River Plate makes sense for Driussi
A return to River Plate represents something of a homecoming for Driussi and the possibility to revive his flagging career within the surroundings he already once flourished in. He is still 28 and has plenty to give yet.
For River Plate, his transfer is not only about recovering a homegrown talent, but rather adding to their roster a player who amalgamates technical skills.
And now, Austin FC?
For Austin FC, the departure of Driussi is bittersweet since on one hand, the club loses an offensive reference, but then again, a deal that cleans up the financial space and a DP spot, allows the team to be remade.
The other two DPs, Brandon Vazquez and Osman Bukari, are promising talents. There's also a new dynamic in coaching. The transfer of Driussi to River Plate should not be seen merely as a loss but as an opportunity for restructuring.
Estévez took over after the departure of Josh Wolff and faces the task of rebuilding both on and off the pitch. The first big test of how this new phase will look arrives on February 22 when 2025 opener against Sporting Kansas City kicks off.