Though Austin FC has not yet confirmed this, both the Athletic's Tom Bogert and the Pioneer-Press are reporting that Minnesota United left back Joseph Rosales is becoming Verde in either a GAM-for-player or cash-for-player trade for a hefty $1.5 million sum.
While Rosales can also play midfield, he's primarily a left back and left wingback, which is a curious move for Austin to make, given that it already has two and maybe even three players able to play that position.
All-Star Guilherme Biro has been the first-choice left back for much of 2025, but he's also had some questionable play and judgment at points — especially following his All-Star appearance — that led head coach Nico Estévez to rely on Žan Kolmanič in tandem with Biro down the stretch and into the playoffs. Of course, Jon Gallagher is also able to play left back.
So, while it doesn't seem like an area of need for Austin, Rosales is arguably an upgrade over anyone currently on the Verde roster at that position. He's also arguably a better counterweight to Mikkel Desler — especially if Estévez does deploy more of a back-five look in 2026, with the possibility of Biro being retained and positioned as a left center back to Rosales' left wingback. (I'm looking for "elbow back," meaning a player that flexes between outside center back and fullback as a fullback goes up the wing, to be one of the defining catch phrases of the '26 season.)
This could be a move to create a three-player Voltron — Žan Birosales, if you will – but this could also be a indicator that one of the two current first-choice left backs might be playing elsewhere in '26.
Here's a video the Loons put together telling his story as the '25 season commenced, if you want to put a face and a voice to the name:
MNUFC
Initially, I'm intrigued by this move but also a little concerned and a little perplexed by the cash or GAM outlay. Let's start where I like to start in these matters. To the charts!
