Wayne Rooney believes D.C. United team-mate Luciano Acosta will join a top club one day and described the Argentine as “one of the best” that’s he’s played with.
Acosta was due to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in January, but the transfer didn’t materialise in the end after a disagreement over the fee.
Luciano Acosta transfer saga: Five key things to know…
- Acosta began his playing career with Argentina side Boca Juniors and signed for D.C. in 2017 after spending a successful season on loan with the club.
- In the 2018 season, the Argentine contributed to 25 league goals in 34 games.
- Acosta has impressed for D.C. during his spell with the club and has attracted interest from elite clubs in Europe.
- PSG made a lucrative offer for the £7m-valued playmaker, but the deal fell through at the Eleventh Hour.
- Man City were reported to have mounted a last-minute swoop for the player, but that also tanked.
As well as the French giants, clubs in the Premier League were interested in the attacking midfielder, but none of them committed to signing him which means he will remain in the US capital – at least until the end of the 2019 MLS season when his D.C. contract expires.
Despite the collapse in transfer negotiations, Rooney is confident that his teammate will get his opportunity to flaunt his talents for a top club.
“He needs to keep motivated,” Rooney told the Washington Post. “He’s a professional player; I’m sure he will.
“He now knows what kind of teams are interested in him. If he continues performing up to his ability, he will get there.
“He’s young and he’s talented — one of the best I’ve played with.”
For a player that turned out alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, it is high praise indeed.
D.C. United return to MLS action on 3 March when they will host Atlanta United at Audi Field.
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel: sqwk.at/Squawka-Sub
Acosta will bounce back
D.C. head coach Ben Olsen believes Acosta will bounce back from the deadline-day blow, continue to hone his skills and ultimately realise his long-term goals.
“As much as a disappointment as [PSG] is for him, he loves the game of soccer,” Olsen said. “He is going to have to readjust. How long that takes? It shouldn’t take that long.”
“Again, the kid loves to play this game. I think he will be okay. He has got a long career ahead of him and he will get to where he wants — and needs — if he continues on this progression.”
The D.C coach, who is suspended from his side’s first game of the season when MLS returns in March, also expressed sympathy for Acosta and says that football is still a human business despite the enormous amounts of cash in the game.
“First and foremost, I am disappointed for him,” Olsen said. “As much as world soccer is about money, it’s still a human business.
“The kid was extremely excited when he left, but he is also a smart kid. He will readjust as we all do with disappointment and get back to his job with D.C. United.
“He knows he has a family here waiting for him.”
The post Rooney hails PSG target Acosta as one of his most talented teammates appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News http://bit.ly/2RypNya
No comments:
Post a Comment