HERRIMAN, Utah (Tuesday, July 12, 2022) – Real Salt Lake announced today that it has agreed to loan forward Jonathan Menéndez to Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield in Argentina for the remainder of the year. RSL reserves the right to terminate the loan as necessary.
Menéndez, 28, has appeared in 24 matches across all completions during his two seasons with the Claret-and-Cobalt, scoring one goal and adding five assists. The Argentine-born forward first joined Real Salt Lake on May 29, 2021 and earned MLS Team of the Week honors for his goal and assist against FC Dallas in week 23 of 2021.
“We appreciate Joni for everything he has done for our Club in the last year,” RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. “This loan will allow Joni more opportunities to see the field and rediscover his best form while providing us with increased roster flexibility.”
TRANSACTION: Real Salt Lake loan forward Jonathan Menéndez to CA Velez Sarsfield on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
As of July 11, 2022, Real Salt Lake’s current roster during the ongoing MLS campaign, listed alphabetically by position, is as follows:
Goalkeepers (5): Gavin Beavers, Jeff Dewsnup, Zac MacMath, David Ochoa, Tomás Gómez
Defenders (11): Andrew Brody, Zack Farnsworth, Justen Glad, Bret Halsey, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, Chris Kablan, Johan Kappelhof, Jaziel Orozco, Marcelo Silva, Tate Schmitt
Midfielders (10): Julio Benitez, Nick Besler, Scott Caldwell, Maikel Chang, Bode Hidalgo, Damir Kreilach, Jasper Löffelsend, Diego Luna, Pablo Ruiz, Jude Wellings
Forwards (9): Sergio Cordova, Chris Garcia, Anderson Julio, Axel Kei, Jonathan Menendez (on loan), Justin Meram, Rubio Rubin, Jefferson Savarino, Bobby Wood
Through the first 19 games of the 2022 MLS campaign, Real Salt Lake (8-5-6, 30 pts, 3rd West) ranks sixth overall in points per game for this year’s Supporters Shield race. For the first time in Club history, RSL has notched nine consecutive sellouts at Rio Tinto Stadium, while Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni has utilized 28 players throughout the injury-filled first half of the year, as the Club has lost nearly 140 combined games due to injury, suspension or international duty.
Real Salt Lake finished last season in dramatic fashion, booking its place in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on Decision Day before making a run to the Western Conference Final following a 14-14-6 regular-season record.
