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SALT LAKE CITY (Monday, August 11, 2008) - Real Salt Lake today announced that the club has waived Argentine DF Matías Mantilla. The other 13 Major League Soccer clubs will now have until 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday to claim Mantilla off of waivers. With the transaction, Real Salt Lake now has two open spots on its 18-man Senior roster, both of which could be filled with international players before the end of the summer transfer window that closes this Friday, August 15.
"Matías joined us last year and made an immediate impact to improve our team," said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. "He is a good player and a great teammate. Unfortunately, with the emergence of Jamison Olave, Matías would have had a diminished role in the team going forward and we felt we should allow him to pursue other opportunities. We wish him all the best and thank him for his service to Real Salt Lake."
The 27-year-old Argentine defender joined Real Salt Lake before the close of the summer transfer window last August, along with fellow countrymen Javier Morales and Fabian Espíndola. Mantilla's stint with RSL got off to a quick start, as he scored the fastest goal in RSL history 40 seconds into his first start with the team against the Kansas City Wizards on August 29, 2007. Mantilla went on to start the final eight games of the 2007 season and six of RSL's first eight contests in 2008, but had not featured in an MLS match for the Utah side since May 24.
