This afternoon (UK time), Orlando City SC officially announced their updated first team roster following the end of the 2021 Major League Soccer campaign.
The first comprehensive evidence as to who is staying, potentially remaining and departing Exploria Stadium before 2022, we knew Nani was leaving but the others in the ‘option declined’ column weren’t so surprising.
Raul Aguilera, Jordan Bender, Derek Dodson, Rio Hope-Gund, David Loera, Emmanuel Mas, and Nani are the names on the ‘option declined’ list.
It’s worth noting that Orlando City SC may renegotiate new contracts for players in the ‘out of contract’ column (except Chris Mueller) should they see fit.
NEWS: #OrlandoCity exercises contract options on 11 players following 2021 MLS season.
📝 https://t.co/6PWFzS56VG pic.twitter.com/QPEsopAisn
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) December 1, 2021
Following the announcement, the status of Orlando City SC‘s first team roster was:
Under Contract
Alexander Alvarado
Antônio Carlos
Pedro Gallese
Michael Halliday
Robin Jansson
Wilfredo Rivera
Kyle Smith
Júnior Urso
Silvester van der Water
Thomas Williams
Remains on Loan
Matheus Aiás (with Real Oviedo)
Out of Contract
Chris Mueller (joining Hibernian in January 2022)
Alexandre Pato
Mauricio Pereyra
Uri Rosell
Option Exercised
Tesho Akindele
Joey DeZart
Daryl Dike
Adam Grinwis
Jhegson Méndez
Benji Michel
João Moutinho
Andrés Perea
Ruan
Rodrigo Schlegel
Mason Stajduhar
Option Declined
Raul Aguilera
Jordan Bender
Derek Dodson
Rio Hope-Gund
David Loera
Emmanuel Mas
Nani
Orlando City UK gathered the best tweets from the Twittersphere following the club announcement.
Mas 🥺
— Ryan Meerdo (@ryanmeerdo) December 1, 2021
Not that I’m necessarily complaining, just suprised
— Joseph Angel (@JoeAngel56) December 1, 2021
Am I doing this meme right @OrlandoCitySC ? pic.twitter.com/DUV27sUyyk
— Adam Brummett (@Brummett43) December 1, 2021
Thank you for keeping Ruan 😍
— OCSC2015😈⚽️ (@ocsc2015) December 1, 2021
$2,500,000 vs $200,000 and clearing up DP spot. If Nani were to stay and play for 200k, I’m sure Orlando would have done it.
— El Thorn (@El_MThornhill) December 1, 2021
For Moutinho I think its because generation adidas contracts have a base of three years with two separate one year options. He doesn’t count towards our senior team and doesn’t hit the salary cap the same. It’s extremely smart to keep him on that contract.
— nonethewiser (@Frojas1997) December 1, 2021
A bit surprised, not the clear out I was expecting. Players I would not retain. Tesho, can’t finish, Uri, to slow, Moutinho, always injured, Schlegel, ungainly, my most controversial, Pereyra, can’t last 90 mins.
— David Manock (@dmanock) December 2, 2021
Who would I keep, Nani, blown it. Pato, has potential. Dike, offer him a DP slot. What do these players have in common, quality.
— David Manock (@dmanock) December 2, 2021
Conclusion, if you decide not resign Nani you must have a plan for at least 1 DP slot. This will be a statement of intent signing.
— David Manock (@dmanock) December 2, 2021
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