Report: Real Salt Lake Close To Signing Colombian Midfielder Gustavo Cuéllar For Record Amount
Jan 31, 2022, 3:49 PM | Updated: 6:38 pm
Lionel Messi of Argentina competes for the ball with Gustavo Cuellar of Colombia during a semi-final match of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Argentina and Colombia at Mane Garrincha Stadium on July 06, 2021 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake closing in on completing a club-record deal to sign Colombian international Gustavo Cuéllar from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
MLS side Real Salt Lake are close to completing a deal with Al-Hilal for Colombian Gustavo Cuellar. Only few details missing on player side. 🇨🇴🇺🇸 #MLS
It would be the most expensive incoming transfer in their history.
RSL see Cuellar as key to their project. #DeadlineDay— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2022
According to renowned soccer insider Fabrizio Romano, the completion of the deal would mark the “most expensive incoming transfer” in Real Salt Lake history.
Cuéllar, 29, is a defensive midfielder who is currently valued at $5 million according to Transfermarkt.com.
In 2019, Cuéllar joined Al-Hilal and has since made 77 appearances. Previously, he spent time in Brazil with Flamengo and Colombia with Deportivo Cali.
Not only would the signing mark the most expensive in club history, but it would also signify the start of the David Blitzer and Ryan Smith era. Blitzer and Smith officially took over as owners of Real Salt Lake on the 5th of January, 2022 but are yet to sign a Designated Player.
The signing of a defensive midfielder was atop the priority list for Real Salt Lake entering the offseason prior to the 2022 season.
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Cuéllar would join the likes of midfielders Everton Luiz who was granted a new contract and Scott Caldwell who was purchased via free agency as midfield acquisitions. Pablo Ruiz and Nick Besler are also expected to see minutes in the midfield throughout 2022.
Real Salt Lake is currently in Tucson, Arizona, where the team is preparing for the 2022 season. The club will return to Utah on February 2nd before traveling to Portland, Oregon, for a preseason tournament.
On February 27th, Real Salt Lake will open their 2022 MLS season on the road against Houston Dynamo before hosting Albert Rusnák and the Seattle Sounders at Rio Tinto Stadium on March 5.
