Real Salt Lake Sends Players To Train With European Clubs

SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake is sending a number of players across the pond to train with select European clubs this offseason.

It is the first time that Real Salt Lake has granted players the ability to train with European clubs and the move comes following the ownership takeover that occurred in January 2022.

David Blitzer, the majority owner of Real Salt Lake alongside Ryan Smith owns multiple European clubs and in the first full offseason under his guidance, the club will capitalize on the Blitzer network.

15 players from Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs, and the Real Academy will spend short-term training stints with ADO Den Haag, Crystal Palace, G.D. Estoril Praia, FC Augsburg, and SK Beveren.

The only club in the Blitzer network that will not host players from the Real Salt Lake family is Spanish club AD Alcorcón.

Where Will They Be Located?

Real Monarchs midfielder Christian Nydegger and defender Bobby Pierre will spend two weeks training with the U-21s at ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands.

Goalkeepers Fernando Delgado (Real Monarchs) and Gavin Beavers (Real Salt Lake) will travel with Real Monarchs Goalkeeper Coach Mirza Harambasic to Crystal Palace in England.

Meanwhile, Real Monarchs midfielders Gennaro Nigro and Benjamin Rodriguez are set to train with G.D. Estoril Praia in Portugal.

RSL Homegrowns Jude Wellings along with Real Monarchs forward Terron Williams and RSL Academy midfielder Izzy Amparo will train at FC Augsburg in Germany.

And finally, RSL Homegrown defenders Zack Farnsworth, Bode Hidalgo, and Jaziel Orozco, along with Real Monarchs midfielder Tyrone Mondi and defenders Golden Mafwenta and Aziz Kayondo will spend time in Belgium with SK Beveren.

Little bit of some @realsaltlake news to start the week. Full list of players heading to train with Blitzer clubs. Awesome to see the young guys going out to train in Europe#RSL #DaleReal pic.twitter.com/aTsHQwzpAz

— RSL Show (@rslshow) October 31, 2022

The international training stints are another benefit of having an owner with global soccer ownership. The experience for all 15 players set to travel abroad will provide invaluable experiences.

Key Offseason Dates

• Nov. 5 – MLS Cup 2022
• Nov. 7 – 48-hour Trade window opens (10 a.m. MT)
• Nov, 9 – Trade window closes (10 a.m. MT)
• Nov. 10 – Expansion Draft Protected / Eligible Lists distributed to Clubs
• Nov. 11 – MLS Expansion Draft; Trade Window re-opens following the Draft
• Nov. 16 – Free AgencyOpens (11 a.m. MT)
• Nov. 17 – Re-Entry Process, Stage 1 (11 a.m. MT); End of Year Waivers (3 p.m. MT)
• Nov. 22 – Re-Entry Process, Stage 2 (11 a.m. MT)
• Dec. 21 – 2022 MLS SuperDraft presented by Adidas
• Jan. 3 – 7 – 2023 MLS Preseason Begins
• Feb. 25 – 2023 MLS Season Kicks Off