MLS Cincinnati Announces Updated Roster for 2023 Season

Major League Soccer (MLS) club FC Cincinnati has unveiled its updated roster for the 2023 season.

The roster features a mix of experienced veterans and promising young players, with several key additions and departures.

Notable additions to the squad include midfielder Sergio Santos from Philadelphia Union, defender Ian Murphy from New England Revolution, and forward Alvaro Barreal from Vélez Sarsfield.

Santos brings a wealth of experience to the team, having made over 100 appearances in MLS, while Murphy is a versatile defender with a strong track record in the league.

Barreal, a highly-rated Argentine forward, is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Cincinnati's attacking options.

Among the departures from the team are midfielder Luciano Acosta, who has joined Atlas in Mexico, and defender Ronald Matarrita, who has moved to LAFC.

Acosta was a key player for Cincinnati last season, but the club decided to sell him due to financial constraints.

Matarrita had been a regular starter for Cincinnati, but he was deemed surplus to requirements following the arrival of Murphy.

Overall, the updated roster represents a significant overhaul for FC Cincinnati, with the club aiming to improve on its eighth-place finish in the Eastern Conference last season.

The new-look team will be led by head coach Pat Noonan, who is entering his second season in charge.

Noonan will be hoping to guide Cincinnati to a playoff berth in 2023, something the club has never achieved in its four years in MLS.

The 2023 MLS season is set to begin on February 25, with FC Cincinnati opening its campaign at home against the Columbus Crew.