Jefferson Savarino Reported To Be On The Move To Brazilian Club

Jan 27, 2020, 3:54 PM | Updated: 3:56 pm

Jefferson Savarino #7 of Real Salt Lake argues a call during a quarterfinals the match of the Leagues Cup 2019 against the UANL Tigres at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

BY TOM HACKETT, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SANDY, Utah – Jefferson Savarino has been sold to Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro according to The Athletic. Savarino, 23, has been with the Claret and Cobalt since 2017 when he joined RSL from Venezeualan club Zulia.

The deal has been reported to be worth $2 million. Although, RSL “will receive 40 percent of any transfer fee should Mineiro sell Savarino elsewhere in the future.” RSL bought Savarino from Zulia on a $2 million fee back in May of 2017.

Savarino has made 82 appearances for RSL, starting 78, since his debut against the New England Revolution in 2017. He added 21 goals and 21 assists over the three-year span. Savarino has been an influential member of the RSL roster who will be remembered for his heroic ability to score game-winning goals, more notably against Atlanta United at Rio Tinto Stadium in the 2-1 victory on May 24th, 2019.

Jefferson Savarino’s “buzzer beater” Golazo, which should’ve been number 1 on ESPN Top Plays, but came in at 7 thanks to someone liking standard baseball plays a little too much.

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pic.twitter.com/aQJ59vMKRT

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) May 25, 2019

While also playing a majority of minutes during the regular season, Savarino has also played and started in all five playoff games over the past two years. His 87th-minute goal in the first round of the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs against Portland Timbers eventually gave the hosts the victory and secured their spot in the Western Conference Semi-finals.

Savarino’s move comes as a surprise to most RSL fans, however, the current coach of Atletico Mineiro was recently hired from the Venezuelan national team where he coached and gave Savarino his first international cap at Rio Tinto Stadium in June of 2017 against the United States. Rafael Dudamel has been coaching since 2010, following a 404 game career as a goalkeeper and is very familiar with the play of Savarino. It comes as very little surprise to hear the interest of Mineiro following the news that Dudamel is in charge.

Thanks for the memories, Sava.