Tag Archives: Independiente

Inter Miami ThisClose to Signing Óscar Ustari 

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Óscar Ustari is making plans to move to The Sunshine State…

Inter Miami is set to sign the 38-year-old Argentinian goalkeeper as a free agent, per ESPN sources.

Óscar Ustari Ustari last featured for Chilean first-division side Audax Italiano before being released from the roster midseason. Now, he’ll arrive in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a substitute for Inter Miami starting goalkeeper Drake Callender. 

Ustari started his career with Independiente, spending two seasons in the Argentine first division to inspire a move to LaLiga‘s Getafe in 2007. While abroad, the goalkeeper saw time with Almeria and then-Premier League team Sunderland.

He also featured for Liga MX teams Atlas and Pachuca, racking up 169 appearances in Mexico.

Internationally, Ustari formed part of former manager Jose Pekerman‘s Argentina roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and joined the Under-23 team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He’s managed two senior team appearances and three Olympic game appearances overall for Argentina.

Ustari is set to join a dominant Inter Miami team under head coach Gerardo Martino. The Herons lead the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings with 59 points in 27 games.

Inter Miami remains on course to break the league record for most points recorded during the regular season, a mark set by the New England Revolution when they hit 73 points in 2021.

Inter Miami returns to action after the international break on Saturday, September 14, with a home game against the Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium.

Austin FC Signs Cecilio Dominguez as the Team’s Designated Player

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Cecilio Dominguez is headed to Central Texas…

The 26-year-old Paraguayan professional footballer has signed with Austin FC as the MLS expansion side’s first Designated Player.

Cecilio Dominguez

Dominguez moves to Austin from Argentine giants Independiente, where he spent last season after moving over from Club America.

Dominguez will remain on loan for the remainder of the 2020 season before joining his new team in January of 2021.

“Cecilio is the type of player we wanted for our first Designated Player signing. He’s a young but experienced, attacking international who joins us from one of the biggest clubs in South America,” said Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff. “His dynamic forward play will translate well to MLS.

“He is an attacking player well known to Liga MX fans, with a broad skillset, good movement off the ball and the ability to come inside and create scoring opportunities by himself. He can score with both feet and his head, and he is a true team player. His club experience in Mexico, Paraguay, and Argentina, alongside his national team history with Paraguay, adds a significant threat to our forward line. He’s a player fans will be pleased to see when we start play in 2021.”

Dominguez, who is the club’s second signing, scored eight goals and provided six assists in 42 games for Independiente, and scored 21 goals in 74 matches for America prior to that.

Austin FC sporting director Claudio Reyna said he had no shortage of suitors for his services.

“He chose Austin FC as opposed to staying in Argentina with the likes of Boca Juniors showing serious interest,” said Reyna.

“Both ways it shows the belief we have in him and likewise him in our staff and the way we’re absolutely going to get him back to his highest level. He just turned 26 and has so much to look forward to. It’s the challenge we talk about with every player … there’s no doubt that he’s going to find his form and be a really impactful player for us.”

Dominguez, who has also had stints at Paraguayan clubs Nacional and Cerro Porteno, has appeared 17 times for his country but has yet to score.