Two reports out of Costa Rica link Ariel Rodriguez to D.C. United as a trialist for the Black and Red. If the name sounds familiar, it's because the 29-year old defensive midfielder played for LD Alajuelense last year in the CONCACAF Champions League against D.C., scoring the first goal of the two leg series on a penalty kick. The rojinegros recently signed Jorge Claros, thus making Rodriguez redundant, and Rodriguez was to go to Carmelita in Costa Rica's second division, and had been linked to a move to Municipal Liberia in that same division, but Alajuelense's President made mention of the interest by D.C., saying that if he does not sign by February 8, he would return to Costa Rica. If he did make the D.C. roster, Pinto says it would be a six month loan with an option to buy.
Rodriguez has played almost 250 Costa Rican League matches between Alajuelense and Municipal Perez Zeledon, and was on the provisional 2014 World Cup roster for the Ticos, though ultimately did not make the final roster. This name is additionally intriguing as a week ago, Ben Olsen declared that the team's replacement for Perry Kitchen replacement is Markus Halsti. So the inclusion of Rodriguez to the squad would be an interesting one and, if he secured a deal, would presumably designate recent draft pick Paul Clowes the outsider looking in from a depth chart perspective (or perhaps Jared Jeffrey), to say nothing of maxing the team's international roster spots out if a decision was not made.
The team had no comment when asked about Rodriguez, but if he is on his way, it will be worth tracking as the team gets to Florida.