It’s been a busy Friday for Real Salt Lake with three major announcements coming within hours. RSL has loaned defender Danilo Acosta to Orlando City SC in exchange for $75,000 in General Allocation Money and OCSC will have the option to buy the player’s rights. The RSL Academy product signed with RSL prior to the 2016 season, had 29 appearances and 26 starts in MLS, and four assists. Acosta saw limited time later in the 2018 season and rumors of discontent began to swirl. Acosta also played for the U-20 National Team at the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championships and 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring the game-winning penalty against Honduras in the CONCACAF Championships Final.
Real Salt Lake also announced a new multi-year contract for General Manager Craig Waibel, who has been with the club since 2014 and GM since 2015. Since Waibel’s arrival, RSL has signed 10 Homegrown players, had RSL Academy products see regular playing time for RSL and receive USMNT call-ups, and made significant signings such as Damir Kreilach, Albert Rusnak, Jefferson Savarino, Marcelo Silva, and Nedum Onuoha.
RSL’s final announcement has been in question since May when Rusnak said he was looking forward to leaving Salt Lake for a bit, hinting that he was unhappy with how his contract negotiations were going. Late in the season, it was rumored that RSL and Rusnak had reached an agreement but nothing was made official until today. Rusnak has been RSL’s leading scorer since joining the club two years ago, with 17 goals and 21 assists in 61 matches. Rusnak’s new contract extends through 2021.
Jay Nolly and Craig Waibel joined The Bill Riley Show to discuss the contract news.
