According to an ESPN Brasil report, shared Monday afternoon via ESPN's Jeff Carlisle, Emiliano Rigoni may be the latest player headed to Austin FC.
Should the report pan out, Austin FC would get its second Argentine designated player in as many seasons. Like 2021 signing Sebastian Driussi, who has since emerged as a talismanic player and MVP candidate, Rigoni spent time with perennial Russian power Zenit St. Petersburg. While both signed on in 2017 and left the club in 2021, Rigoni spent some time on loan at Atalanta and Sampdoria, but the two were teammates for part of their tenures there.
ESPN Brasil colleagues André Plihal, Eduardo Affonso & @f_delaurentiis reporting that Emiliano Rigoni is headed to #Verde for $4m. Obviously, something needs to done with one of the 3 existing DPs, either Ring bought down or Dominguez moved out of MLS: https://t.co/ZBTrMjhccP
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 11, 2022
Rigoni, who has two caps with the Argentine national team, both earned in 2017, is currently under contract with Sao Paolo of Brazil's top-flight Campeonato Paulista. The ESPN Brasil report noted that Rigoni has only scored twice in 32 matches across all competitions in 2022, and noted that team officials are puzzled by the drop in production compared to 2021.
Nevertheless, the report has set Austin FC fans buzzing about the possibilities of bringing in a high-caliber player for the stretch run, shortly after the club added Ecuadorian winger Washington Corozo last week to add depth.
Four minutes of Emliano Rigoni absolutely terrorizing Internacional almost exactly one year ago today.
— Kevin Morris (@socceralt) July 11, 2022
YT link below👇 (not my channel!) pic.twitter.com/sbW56hqRjS
The report notes that should Rigoni qualify as a designated player, Austin FC will need to do something with one of its two non-Driussi DP slots: Either buy down Alex Ring's existing contract or move Cecilio Dominguez.
The Striker reached out to Austin FC for comment.
This is a developing story.