For Orlando City forward Cyle Larin, it's time to make a move.
In an exclusive interview with Orlando Sentinel sports reporter Alicia DelGallo, Larin declared his intent to pursue a long-rumored move to Europe after a three-year run with Orlando City SC that has seen him score 43 goals in 87 matches.
“I think I’m at the right place to go play in Europe and it’s the right time,” Larin told DelGallo.
OCSC general manager Niki Budalic acknowledged Larin's interest to the Orlando Sentinel and expressed a willingness to help navigate a mutually beneficial deal.
“If there’s an opportunity for him to move that he wants to pursue and we receive an acceptable offer from the club, then of course we’ll try to make everyone happy," he said. "So, he’s under contract for two more years, but we understand if there’s an opportunity for him to go that we agree with then, yes, I think we’ll definitely help support him.”
Larin, drafted No. 1 overall in 2015 out of the University of Connecticut, won recognition as the 2015 AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year and has made more than 20 appearances for the Canadian men's national team.
Should the Larin move come to pass, the Lions would likely continue to entrust the forward duties to Dom Dwyer, who has been a fixture for the club since arriving in a trade from Sporting Kansas City.
Dwyer started each of the club's final nine regular season matches, while Larin started alongside him on only three occasions during that span.