The Columbus Crew is attempting to finalize a transfer for Uruguay international forward Diego Rossi from Fenerbahce ahead of Wednesday night’s transfer deadline, league sources told The Athletic.
Columbus has an open designated player spot after transferring star attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan to Saudi side Al-Fateh on Monday. The window closes at midnight Central time on Thursday.
Rossi, 25, joined Fenerbahce from LAFC in 2021. He has 10 goals and 20 assists in 90 appearances with the Turkish giants. Rossi became a star in MLS with LAFC, scoring the club’s first-ever goal in 2018. He had 59 goals and 22 assists in 121 matches, a stellar return for a winger signed as a 19-year-old.
During his time in Los Angeles, Rossi helped lead the club to win their first trophy (2019 Supporters’ Shield) and advance to the CONCACAF Champions League final in 2020. He won the 2020 MLS Golden Boot, was a two-time MLS All-Star and was named to MLS Best XI once.
Rossi would join the Crew’s league-best attack, which will have a new look with Rossi replacing Zelarayan. He would join Cucho Hernandez (eight goals, seven assists in 1,630 minutes this season) and Christian Ramirez (10 goals, four assists in 1,549 minutes) in attack.
A natural winger, Rossi would likely play more centrally for the Crew as Wilfried Nancy’s back three system relies on width from wingbacks, letting the three attackers play more narrow and with freedom. Columbus has scored 45 goals in MLS play this year, more than any other team in the league.
The Crew has had an eventful summer. They traded for wingback Julian Gressel from the Vancouver Whitecaps and center back Rudy Camacho from CF Montréal, while goalkeeper Eloy Room (contract termination, signed with Vitesse) and center back Milos Degenek (transfer to Red Star Belgrade) also departed.
Columbus is in the knockout round of the Leagues Cup as well, hosting Minnesota United in the round of 32 on Friday. They return to MLS play on August 20 against in-state rival FC Cincinnati.
(Photo: Mike Kireev / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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