Our calls for D.C. United to add depth to the left back position may soon be answered.
The team announced yesterday that 20-year old Brazilian defender Guilherme Alves da Costa has earned his paperwork in order to train with United in D.C. this coming week, and then join them in Charleston for the upcoming Carolina Challenge Cup. Oh yeah, and the dcunited.com article specifically notes him as a left back, which happens to be our position of greatest need.
Guilherme is listed at 5'-10" and is currently a member Carioca 1 leading Botofoga, but has not made an appearance in any of the team's seven matches so far this season. He made six appearances (two starts) for the team in Brazil's Serie A last season.
Fullback Files has already done the dirty work in scouting Guilherme with Football Manager, revealing that the Brazilian is more of an attack-minded wingback than the stay-at-home defensive-minded fullback that Ben Olsen has seemed to prefer in the past. Guilherme's chances of making the team and earning what would likely be a loan from Botofoga will probably depend largely on what type of left back Olsen is looking for to back up (or replace?) Daniel Woolard.