Casal Released

It turns out the BigSoccer rumors were true: Kasali Yinka Casal has been released from DC United. (Kudos to Max J. @ The Offside: DC United for the tip.)

Goff has the rundown.

This is a bit of a setback for DC United: Casal was a very promising prospect for the future. However, the allure of European football (he's a Fulham prospect, mind) has always been strong in him and I'm not sure if we would have been able to keep him here past the age of 20 anyways. At least if he stayed, DCU would see a bit of a profit. As it is, if he finds greener pastures across the pond, DCU will get nothing.

I'm starting to wonder whether or not his rejection from the Nigerian U-20 side has anything to do with this. Casal might happen to feel (as most young international prospects do; see my piece a couple posts down about Juan Toja) that playing in the MLS for any amount of time will hurt his ambitions for playing on the national team.

Anyways, good luck, Casal. Hope you hit the big time, son.

Update: there's a small little thought at the end of this DCenters post that strikes me as tremenously true -- "...if United raises the Cup in DC these moves will be a crucial part of that story."

If we win it, these moves will have won the Cup. It's the truth.