TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
D.C. United’s hopes of arranging the return of winger Yamil Asad appeared to take a hit over the weekend, as the player told an Argentinean radio outlet that he plans to stay at Velez Sarsfield for the second half of that club’s 2018-19 season.
Asad spent the 2018 MLS season on loan with D.C., scoring nine goals and eight assists in 30 regular-season appearances (27 starts). He also played in MLS in 2017, producing seven goals and 13 assists in a similar arrangement with Atlanta United during their debut campaign.
But the 24-year-old apparently has no interest in another loan stint – despite other reports linking him to Chilean side Universidad Catolica and Ecuador's Emelec – and has been training with his home club with an eye towards earning a central place in their plans.
“Now my head is with Velez,” Asad said in an interview with the Velez 670 radio show. “I decided to stay and I hope to take advantage of this second chance. I want to show that with everything I did in the United States, I now have more experience. I had offers, but I do not want to go on loan anymore.”
D.C. declined their option to buy Asad permanently in November, citing salary budget considerations, but expressed a desire to negotiate another path to acquiring him. General manager Dave Kasper told The Washington Post at Friday’s SuperDraft that negotiations over Asad were continuing with Velez.
