Minnesota United Signs Argentine Forward Ramon Abila
April 7, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Minnesota United announced today the club has signed Argentine forward Ramón "Wanchope" Ãbila from Club Atlético Boca Juniors of Argentina's Primera División. This is a season-long loan from Boca, using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), with an option to buy. Ãbila will join the Loons pending a physical, receipt of his P1 Visa and ITC and completion of league-mandated quarantine. Additionally, Ãbila will occupy an international spot on Minnesota's roster.
"We've tried long and hard all offseason to bring in someone with a nose for goal - everyone knows that - and then Ramon became available," said Head Coach Adrian Heath. "Great goal-scoring record. He's a big strong body, with good technical ability. He can do a bit of everything. Good with his back to goal, good at posting up, he's got good movement in the box, very strong, very aggressive. When the opportunity arose, we thought it was something we must take. The fact that he and Reynoso played together - and you saw the reaction when he came into the building with Rey - it's a big teammate of his, big friend of his. But most importantly, we know he's scored goals, he's used to playing under pressure. Being the number nine for Boca Juniors comes with certain sorts of pressure and intensity and he's been able to deal with that and has coped well in living up to that. If he can score the goals we think he will, we think he's going to be another great piece for us."
"I liked the club, especially with what Bebelo [Reynoso] had told me about how things were going for him and what the team had accomplished last season," said Ãbila. "And, upon seeing the facilities and the league, all of that was seductive to me to come here to compete and to accomplish great things."
Abila, 31, joins Minnesota United from Boca Juniors, where he was a former teammate of current Loon Emanuel Reynoso. With 81 total appearances for Boca, across all competitions, Abila has 34 goals and 13 assists, most recently 12 goals during the 2019-2020 season. Like Reynoso, Abila is from Córdoba, Argentina and is a product of the youth program of Instituto Atletico Central Córdoba. At 19, he made his professional debut in 2008 for the Instituto AC Córdoba's first team in the Primera Nacional - the Argentine second division - where he made 31 appearances. In 2014, Abila signed with Club Atletico Huracán, where he was one of the top scorers at Copa Sudamericana 2015, a title he still holds with five goals. He was also part of a Huracán squad that won the 2013-14 Copa Argentina and the 2014 Supercopa Argentina.
Club Atletico Boca Juniors of Buenos Aires, Argentina is the most successful soccer team in Argentina and one of the most popular clubs in the country, next to River Plate. Founded in 1905, the 114-year-old club is ranked third in the world in terms of international titles with 22, only behind Egyptian Premier League side Al Ahly (24) and Real Madrid (26). Boca has 68 titles to date, including 33 Superliga championships and 13 domestic cups.
MNUFC returns to the pitch for its fifth season in MLS. Follow Minnesota United's social channels and check our website at mnufc.com for regular updates on the club.
Transaction: Minnesota United signs Ramón Ãbila on a season-long loan using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM).
VITALS
Ramón Ãbila
Position: Forward
Date of birth: 10.14.1989 (31 years old)
Height: 5'9"
Last club: Club Atlético Boca Juniors
Birthplace: Córdoba, Argentina
Hometown: Córdoba, Argentina
Citizenship: Argentina
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
Major League Soccer Stories from April 7, 2021
- Club Leon (1) - Toronto FC (1) Post Game Summary - Toronto FC
- Austin FC Draws 3-3 with FC Dallas in Second Preseason La Copita Match - Austin FC
- Kacper Przybylko opens the Union's Champions League scoring with game winner - Philadelphia Union
- Multiple Key Players Return as Rapids Draw LA in Visit Tucson Sun Cup - Colorado Rapids
- Revolution Defeat LA Galaxy II, 2-1, in Preseason Scrimmage - New England Revolution
- Houston Dynamo FC Announce 2021 Broadcast Lineup - Houston Dynamo FC
- Sporting to Host Season Kickoff Watch Party on April 17 - Sporting Kansas City
- Columbus Crew SC Announces Regional Broadcast Schedule for 2021 Major League Soccer Regular Season - Columbus Crew SC
- New York Red Bulls Name Stefano Fusaro Digital Correspondent and Spanish Radio Host - New York Red Bulls
- Celebrate the Launch of DICK'S Sporting Goods' New Soccer Shops on Saturday - Colorado Rapids
- Minnesota United Signs Argentine Forward Ramon Abila - Minnesota United FC
- FC Dallas Signs Hungarian Winger Szabolcs Schon - FC Dallas
- Toronto FC Sign Defender Luke Singh to Short Term Agreement - Toronto FC
- Sporting Creates Commemorative Book for STMs - Sporting Kansas City
- FC Cincinnati Sign Defender Avionne Flanagan - FC Cincinnati
- New York City FC Signs Midfielder Alfredo Morales from Fortuna Dusseldorf - New York City FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.