FC Cincinnati target Matías Fernández ahead of inaugural MLS campaign | OneFootball

FC Cincinnati is busy stocking up their roster ahead of their first season in Major League Soccer.

After three years in the second-division United Soccer League, Cincinnati will kick off their MLS tenure in 2019.

Reports out of Chile are linking FCC with veteran play-maker Matías Fernández. Currently playing with Necaxa in Liga MX, Fernández helped the club win Copa MX in Clausura 2018.

Chilean papers La Cuarta and La Estrella report that FCC general manager Jeff Berding has already reached out the Chilean’s camp for discussions.

Fernández was an important part of his country’s squad in the 2010 World Cup and their successful 2015 Copa America run. He has made 74 appearances for La Roja and scored 14 goals, seven of which came in World Cup qualifying.

The 32-year-old has impressive spells in his CV including with Colo-Colo in his native country, Villarreal in Spain, and Serie A side Fiorentina.

Fernández is under contract at Necaxa until June 2019 though Cincinnati would surely prefer their key midfielder to join the team from pre-saeson rather than wait until the summer. With just six months remaining on his current deal, FCC are hoping to secure their target relatively cheaply.

La Cuarta report that the player responded positively to talks with Berding about the vision for the first-year MLS team and his role within it. Fernández has been intrigued by the arrival of talented players like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Miguel Almirón, and Wayne Rooney.