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Less than a week before the MLS season opener, DC United on Sunday agreed to trade reserve forward Miguel Berry to Atlanta for financial reasons, three people familiar with the deal said.
United, who make their debut against Toronto FC at Audi Field on Saturday, will receive $250,000 in general allotment funds and a percentage of any fees Atlanta earns from a future transfer of Berry overseas.
Berry, 25, has not scored in 14 regular-season games (eight starts) for United, who finished with the fewest points in MLS. United had acquired him from Columbus mid-season for $225,000 in general grant monies. It’s unclear if he hit thresholds that would have sent the crew another $100,000.
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Berry, who scored eight goals for Columbus in 2021, is entering the final year of his MLS contract, which netted $120,000 last season. He had sought a long-term pact to remain in Washington, but nothing materialized.
Berry was set to back up United striker Christian Benteke, one of three designated players expected to start in attack. Taxi Fountas and Mateusz Klich are the others.
Nigel Robertha, who missed United’s preseason games with a broken wrist, and Ted Ku-DiPietro, a homegrown sophomore who had a productive preseason, are also in the mix. United are also popular with Kristian Fletcher, a 17-year-old homegrown player entering his first professional season.
Coach Wayne Rooney has hinted at adding another player or two before the April 24 end of the MLS transfer window, but hasn’t said if a forward is on his radar.
Midfielder Ravel Morrison, who joined Rooney from Derby County last summer, is unlikely to stay with the club much longer, two people close to the team have said. United could end up buying out his guaranteed contract, valued at $850,000.
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
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