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SANDY — Real Salt Lake has already seen plenty of movement from Rio Tinto Stadium to Mexico's Liga MX in the short MLS offseason. Longtime midfielder Luis Gil was transferred to Queretaro FC, and former D.C. United midfielder Luis Silva will play next season with UANL Tigres in Liga MX.
The traffic got a little heavier Tuesday.
Homegrown midfielder Sebastian "Bofo" Saucedo will be loaned to Mexico's Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, general manager Craig Waibel announced Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per team policy.
"This is a great opportunity for Bofo to continue his development in a different environment with a chance for more playing time in a competitive league," Waibel said in a statement.
Just 10 days before his 19th birthday, the Park City native will spend a year abroad in on Mexico's gulf coast. The RSL-Arizona Academy graduate has spent two seasons with RSL, featuring in nine matches in 2015 with one start. Saucedo helped the academy to the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy U-16 national championship in 2013, scoring 50 goals in two seasons with the program and earning U-16 West player of the year honors in 2013-14.
In addition to 168 minutes in MLS, Saucedo also has played in one CONCACAF Champions League match, one U.S. Open Cup match and seven matches with RSL's third-division affiliate Real Monarchs.
Veracruz, nicknamed "the Sharks," finished third in Mexico's Apertura season in 2015, finishing with an 8-6-3 record and falling to UNAM Pumas in the playoff quarterfinals.
RSL opens preseason training January 22 before beginning competitive play February 24 against Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
Saucedo's loan, which provides "roster relief and budget space" from per Major League Soccer regulations, sets RSL's roster at 23 players ahead of Thursday's MLS SuperDraft. RSL has the No. 5 overall pick in the draft for college and college-aged players, which starts at 11 a.m. MST.
