The Daily Dirt, December 19: Home or just visiting?

The offseason rolls on as we await more moves from Atlanta United. The biggest questions for the team right now surround the left wing position. #BarcoWatch is still ongoing and doesn’t appear to have an obvious end date or conclusion. Independiente’s brass are reportedly set to meet soon to discuss the 18-year-old’s future with the club, while the player supposedly has his sights set on joining Tata Martino’s squad. We’re basically in a holding pattern until they decide what they want to do.

Meanwhile back home in Atlanta, Yamil Asad posted an intriguing SnapChat on Monday night revealing that he’s back in town. The post showed him watching The People vs. O.J. Simpson, as you do. There’s a subtitle on the screen, but I can’t seem to make out what it says. Maybe a subliminal message of some sort? Maybe there’s a computer wiz out there who can solve this mystery?

On the surface, this doesn’t mean much. He could just be visiting while waiting for the Argentine season to resume. Or it could mean that a deal for him to return to Atlanta is totally on the verge of happening!!! That’s the beauty of social media these days.

Asad clearly loves Atlanta and his teammates adore him. The only question now is, will they all be reunited for 2018? We’ll have to wait and see...

Domestic

Orlando City adds R.J. Allen and Stéfano Pinho, re-signs Dillon Powers (The Mane Land)

MLS teams learn their opponents for the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League (MLSSoccer)

Portland Timbers Hire Giovanni Savarese as head coach (Stumptown Footy)

Toronto FC sign U.S. youth international Ayo Akinola to homegrown deal (Waking The Red)

U.S. Soccer refutes Laurent Blanc’s claims that he declined job offer (Stars and Stripes FC)

International

Henrikh Mkhitaryan to return to Borussia Dortmund? (ESPNFC)