FC Cincinnati announced the transfer of defender Alvaro Barreal to Brazilian top-flight side Santos on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Argentina international spent the 2025 season on loan at Santos, where the team said he met the performance metrics that triggered his multi-million dollar purchase obligation.
FC Cincinnati had a good 2025 MLS season, despite not managing to reach at least the Eastern Conference final. Pat Noonan's team finished in second place in the East during the regular season, earning 65 points after 34 games, with a record of 20 wins, five draws, and nine losses.
FC Cincinnati, which joined the MLS in 2019, is playing in true Pat Noonan style, without drama or flash. Its rise is so sneaky that even regular MLS viewers may be shocked to see FC Cincinnati in first.