The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today that midfielder Eduard Atuesta and forward Diego Rossi have obtained their U.S. green cards and will no longer occupy international spots on the Club’s roster.
Atuesta, 21, signed a new multi-year deal with the Club in the offseason after initially arriving on loan from Independiente Medellin last February. In his first MLS season, Atuesta saw action in 25 games (16 starts), scoring one goal and adding two assists in 1,501 minutes. He also appeared in three of the Club’s four U.S. Open Cup matches.
Rossi, the Club’s second Designated Player, played in 32 regular season matches (30 starts) and finished second on the team in goals (12) and assists (9). In the Club’s second-ever game – a 5-1 victory over Real Salt Lake – Rossi became the first player since 2008 to register a five-point game following a two-goal and three-assist performance.
The 21-year-old forward also tallied five goals in U.S. Open Cup play, including a hat-trick in LAFC’s semifinal loss against Houston Dynamo.
Rossi (No. 3) and Atuesta (No. 16) were two of the four LAFC players that represented the Black & Gold in the League’s 22 Under 22 list last year. Eligible players were ranked based on technical ability, tactical IQ, physical attributes and future potential.
