TRANSFER TRACKER: Report
A pair of young Uruguayan players at Nacional have been linked to Major League Soccer, according to outlet Ovacion in their home country. While no specific clubs are disclosed, Santiago Rodriguez and Matias Vina are both reportedly generating interest.
Rodriguez, 20, is an attacking midfielder who has made 29 appearances for Nacional, registering six goals and 11 assists. He was a key figure for Uruguay at last summer’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, and also featured extensively for La Celeste’s U-17s as his senior career got underway.
Meanwhile, Vina is a 22-year-old defender who has made six appearances for Uruguay’s senior national team and featured 47 times for Nacional. Amid the MLS news, he's also been linked to Turkish club Fenerbahce and Brazilian side Palmeiras.
Any move would continue a recent trend of young Uruguayans coming to MLS. Namely, LAFC have landed Diego Rossi, Brian Rodriguez and Francisco Ginella, while Thomas Chacon was signed by Minnesota United as a Young Designated Player last August. There are also some veteran Uruguayans, namely Seattle Sounders maestro Nicolas Lodeiro and Orlando City SC attacker Mauricio Pereyra.
