Albert Rusnak: Which team will he join?

Rusnak, a 27-year-old Slovakian international, has been a Designated Player and captain for Real Salt Lake. Since first coming to MLS in 2017, he has 41 goals and 39 assists across 140 appearances (135 starts) for the club.

In the Western Conference Final in 2021, he told MLSsoccer.com’s Tom Bogert that he’d “love to stay” in Utah. But as of now, the out-of-contract star hasn’t sorted his future.

Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy, the closest clubs to the Slovakian

Seattle Sounders FC are angling to sign attacking midfielder Albert Rusnak via free agency, according to Niko Moreno and Jeremiah Oshan of Sounder At Heart.

At Seattle, there are several RSL connections that could shift Rusnak in that direction. Assistant coach Freddy Juarez was RSL’s head coach before joining Seattle midseason last September. And Sounders sporting director Craig Waibel originally brought Rusnak to MLS during his own Claret & Cobalt days, arriving from Eredivisie side Groningen.

Albert Rusnak has also been linked with a move to LA Galaxy as a free agent. The first rumor comes to us from Keith Costigan, a play-by-play commentator, and reporter for Fox Sports.

It does seem like Real Salt Lake is not in the running for his signature as things stand, but with an ownership group in place, things could change rapidly.

Would a transfer to the Premier League be possible?

The 27 years-old also was linked with Premier League clubs at the beginning of December. The Daily Mail reported that Southampton and Newcastle were the clubs interested in the Real Salt Lake captain.

Rusnák’s career began in England when he was a member of the Manchester City Academy. He spent five years from 2010 to 2015 but was unable to crack into the first team.

In 2018, prior to Rusnák signing his most recent deal with Real Salt Lake that paid him roughly $2 million a year, interest from Europe was prevalent. 

Furthermore, current Crystal Palace boss and former NYCFC manager Patrick Viera was quoted in 2018 prior to an NYCFC and Real Salt Lake game that “when he was at City we saw that talent. He was ready to play ‘man’s football’ when he was 17, 18 years old. He is one of the best number tens in the league.”

Another surprise team reportedly seeking the Slovakian are Boca Juniors, according to Callum Williams and Keith Costigan. 

Rusnak started all 34 games, one of only five non-goalkeepers in MLS to do so this year. It was his best statistical season as well, with 11goals and 11 assists.