UPDATE (February 25, 2021): D.C. United and FC Cincinnati have agreed upon trade terms for Luciano Acosta's MLS rights, per Steven Goff of The Washington Post.
However, Goff stressed that several steps remain before Acosta could return to MLS. Chief among them is FC Cincinnati striking a deal with Liga MX side Atlas, which seems to have a few obstacles.
UPDATE (February 16, 2021):The Athletic's Pablo Maurer reports that Luciano Acosta is more likely to join FC Cincinnati, with an agreement between them and Acosta's former club D.C. United for his rights in the works.
TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Report
FC Cincinnati and former club D.C. United are both interested in bringing Atlas attacking midfielder Luciano Acosta back to MLS, per a report from Pablo Maurer and Sam Stejskal of The Athletic.
While the report outlines that FC Cincinnati lead the way, D.C. United would reportedly need to be compensated because they retain the 26-year-old Argentine's MLS rights. He moved to Atlas in Liga MX for 2020, scoring three times in 29 matches since.
During his D.C. United stay from 2016-19, Acosta was at times electric, reaching 24 goals and 35 assists in 126 matches (109 starts) for the Black-and-Red. He memorably teamed up with Wayne Rooney during the 2018 season, tallying 10 goals and 17 assists to form the "LuchoRoo" partnership, inspiring a playoff trip as Audi Field opened. They both placed on the 2018 MLS Best XI.
Acosta also nearly secured a multi-million-dollar transfer to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain during the 2019 offseason, only for the deal to fall through in the final hours. Acosta developed at Argentine powerhouse side Boca Juniors, plus spent time on loan at Estudiantes before coming to D.C. United.
Both FC Cincinnati and D.C. United could use an attacking lift after missing the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in 2020. FC Cincinnati have already signed Brazilian forward Brenner as a Young Designated Player ahead of their first full season with head coach Jaap Stam, while D.C. United are entering their first season under new head coach Hernan Losada.
