Report: Reynoso absent from MNUFC camp for second straight year

Minnesota United is once again starting preseason training camp without it's star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, according to a report from the Pioneer Press' Andy Greder.

The 28-year-old Argentinian reportedly has not shown up to the first few days of the club's camp. Players were expected to arrive at the team's training facility in Blaine starting Saturday, but the former All-Star was a no show.

Reynoso was absent from the team for the first several months of the 2023 season with the midfielder finally arriving in Minnesota in May and taking the field for the first time in June. 

The Loons missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons last year, finishing with a 10-13-11 record. Before Reynoso's arrival the club sported a 5-6-4 record, and the were 5-7-7 with him in the lineup. 

The club suspended Reynoso without pay during his absence last year. 

Reynoso inked a three-year extension in September 2022. The MLS Players Association lists the 28-year-old as the second highest-paid player on the team behind forward Teemu Pukki.

It's not the only issue the Loons are dealing with as the 2024 season kicks off in 40 days. Minnesota United are still in the process of a head coach search after firing former manager Adrian Heath in early October.

Assistant coach Sean McAuley was handed the interim role for the final two games of the season, going 1-1 and missing the playoffs. The club announced in early December that McAuley would retain the interim tag to start the 2024 season but on Jan. 5 McAuley departed the team to "to pursue other opportunities." 

McAuley was announced as head coach of Indy Eleven last week.

After McAuley stepped away, Minnesota United named Cameron Knowles the interim head coach. Knowles managed MNUFC2 the past two seasons.

All while the team has been sorting out it's head coach situation they have been awaiting the arrival of new chief soccer officer Khaled El-Ahmad. In November the Loons hired El-Ahmad to take over the soccer operations but El-Ahmad is still in the process of acquiring his visa. Greder reports the plan is for El-Ahmad to finally arrive this week.