DeAndre Yedlin Embraces Cincinnati After Stint With Lionel Messi And Inter Miami

Defender DeAndre Yedlin wears No. 91 for his new group, FC Cincinnati, in tribute to uncle Dylan Walton-Yedlin, who performed American soccer.

Yedlin stated his uncle — a standout defensive lineman at Union College in New York — was “like a father” to him. In truth, Yedlin has a tattoo of his uncle and himself, each carrying No. 91, on his forearm.

But the brand new quantity is about greater than honoring his uncle.

“My whole career I’ve played with a number that has a two in it, whether it be No. 2 or 22 or 20 or 24,” Yedlin stated. “This will be the first time that I have a number that doesn’t have that, and I think it marks a new beginning, a clean slate.”

Yedlin, who has been to a pair of World Cups with the United States, was traded from Inter Miami to Cincinnati earlier this week for $172,799 in 2024 common allocation cash. He leaves a group led by Lionel Messi, however he joins one other that final season received 20 video games and earned the Supporters’ Shield.

Yedlin stated he had heard whispers a couple of potential commerce earlier than beginning for Miami in a 5-0 victory over Orlando City final Saturday. Messi scored twice in that recreation.

A proper again, Yedlin stated he feels his model enhances Cincinnati’s backline with Matt Miazga and Miles Robinson — two of the gamers he spoke to when he was traded. Robinson, who additionally performs for the U.S. nationwide group, joined Cincinnati as a free agent within the offseason.

Yedlin additionally pointed to attacking midfielder Luciano Acosta, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player, as “another special Argentinian.” Both Messi and Acosta are from Argentina.

“They have a very distinct style of play and I think the type of player that I am fits that style,” Yedlin stated. “So, (I’ll) just try to be very vertical and get up and down and get in behind defenses and be a menace on the defensive side.”

Yedlin, 30, performed for his hometown Seattle Sounders for 2 seasons earlier than he was lured in 2014 to Tottenham within the Premier League. He appeared in a single match, towards Aston Villa, earlier than he was loaned to Sunderland for a season.

He performed for Newcastle from 2016-21 and was with Turkish membership Galatasaray for a yr earlier than he signed with Inter Miami in 2022.

Yedlin has been an everyday defender on the U.S. nationwide group, showing in 81 matches since his debut in 2014. As a rookie he was named the U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year.

Yedlin was on the U.S. roster for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, taking part in in three matches. He appeared in two video games for the United States on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“I’m always open to anything,” he stated. “I’ve been around the world playing and I just look at every new place that I go as a new experience. So I try to be as open minded as I can.”

Yedlin made his debut on Thursday night time, beginning within the opening match of the CONCACAF Champions Cup’s spherical of 16 collection towards Mexican membership Monterrey.

While Cincinnati misplaced 1-0 within the first leg, coach Pat Noonan referred to as Yedlin’s efficiency sturdy.

“We had to put a lot into defensive transition moments. And with his positioning of how he had to release high off the field, it was asking a lot of him at times. And I thought he was up to the task with the ball,” Noonan stated. “He provided the right moments to just slow the game down and rotate. He did a good job with his timing of how he moved into the attack to be able to receive passes and get us over the box. Overall, for a player that’s only been here a couple of days, he was strong.”

Cincinnati hosts D.C. United on Sunday because the Major League Soccer season continues. The second leg of the Champions Cup is about for subsequent Thursday in Monterrey.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)