Reports: Orlando City Close to Signing Colombian Starlet Rivas

For the second time this week, Orlando City has been linked to a young foreign player.

After a transfer rumor involving Portuguese forward Yannick Djaló of the San Jose Earthquakes forward earlier this week, the Lions have been linked to a possible imminent signing of Carlos Augusto Rivas Murillo—better known as Carlos Rivas—a 20-year-old Colombian attacker with Deportivo Cali in the Categoría Primera A, that country’s top flight.

The youngster won’t legally be able to purchase a beer in this country until April 15, but he could become a vital left winger to complete an attacking midfield trio with Kaká and Kevin Molino in Adrian Heath’s 4-2-3-1 formation, if radio and social media reports out of Colombia, as reported by FutbolMLS.com and MLSSoccer.com turn out to be true.

It has been widely reported that Heath and assistant coach Ian Fuller were seen scouting at a Deportivo Cali match this year—a fact Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel reminded us of in his report last night. Tenorio added:

The club would not confirm the signing, however several reports on social media out of Colombia indicated that Rivas will be headed to Orlando City.

In 29 league games this season, Rivas has 12 goals. The 5-foot-7, Jamundí, Colombia native has three career goals in 11 Domestic Cup matches and three goals in nine International Cup games. Rivas scored once in seven appearances with Deportivo Cali in 2013 and went scoreless in 10 games with Once Caldas in 2012.