The 2025 FC Cincinnati preseason roster held their final practice before heading to Florida on Friday morning. However, some expected and unexpected absences still ruled the headlines.
Luciano Acosta and Luca Orellano were no-shows during attendance in the previous week, and neither were present for morning activities on Friday. Acosta was expected to attend at the start of preseason, but his state with the team has been in limbo since the close of the 2024 season. At the time of reporting, his direction and availability are still unknown, with various media sources reporting possible suitors for a transfer.
While Orellano transferred to FC Cincinnati permanently in the offseason, reports indicated that there were some disputes with his contract. However, as of Friday afternoon, Orellano was scheduled to return that day to Mercy Health Training Center to undergo his medicals.
Surprisingly, a third member of the team also failed to report, as Yuya Kubo was also missing from Friday practices. Kubo opted to re-sign with the team in the 2024 offseason and is under contract through the 2025 season with a team option in 2026. His status with the team and reasons for missing Friday’s sessions are unclear.
Head coach Pat Noonan addressed the absences in the media scrum afterwards. “Luca, Lucho, and Yuya—they didn’t report and they’re meant to be here. It’s disappointing, certainly for us for what we expected to get us started and starting off on the right foot. There’s been discussions, but we’ll handle those more internally and move forward. But it’s disappointing that they’re not here.”
Noonan also addressed how this could produce a setback to the MLS season and CONCACAF Champions Cup play. “It’s a setback because of how we have to start our season for the combination of league play and the Champions Cup. We’ve experienced what that looks like last year, and every day that you’re out on the field training, every day in our meeting spaces going through video, which has been pretty heavy this week—they’re missing out in those meetings. They’ve been here, so some of it might be repetitive, but there’s new ideas, new thoughts. Every day they’re not here is a lost day.”
In addition, defender Miles Robinson was not in attendance, as he has been training with the USMNT for Saturday’s match against Venezuela. Defenders Matt Miazga and Nick Hagglund are still in rehabilitation, but an inflatable pool was being prepared on the MHTC grounds for Hagglund’s participation in a polar plunge.
Goalkeeper Alec Kann is expected to rejoin the team practices in Florida.
Noonan did clarify that midfielder Yamil Asad would not return to FC Cincinnati at the start of 2025, stating, “At this point, Yamil won’t be coming back.”
Newcomers Kevin Denkey and Brian Anunga both joined their new teammates in practice, with Noonan speaking confidently about their addition.
“You know, with [Denkey], just his presence in front of goal, how clean he is with his touches, he’s very purposeful to finish plays off and is consistently hitting the goal. That’s what’s made him a very strong goal scorer. But then you just see some of the other aspects of his game, how engaged he is.
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