NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville SC announced the signing of winger Rodrigo Piñeiro on Wednesday. Piñeiro, 21, has spent the whole of his young career in his native Uruguay, playing with powerhouse Peñarol for two seasons before joining Danubio last January, where he scored twice and assisted three last season.
“Rodrigo has the pace and creativity to be a threat in the final third of the field, both on and off the ball. He adds a unique dynamic to our attack,” said Mike Jacobs, Nashville’s General Manager. “To have another young prospect come in, and from a country and league like Uruguay, bodes really well to see what he did over there translate here, and we’re just super excited to add him to our club.”
Piñeiro came through the academy of Miramar Misiones in his hometown of Montevideo. He played 30 matches and scored three goals before moving to Penñarol, where he struggled to break into the first team. He made seven appearances before a pair of loan spells, after which he moved to Danubio on a permanent move at the start of the 2019/20 season.
At Danubio, Piñeiro was a core member the first team, making 20 appearances. Playing largely as a winger (or occasionally as a second striker), Piñeiro contributed three goals and four assists in just over 1,500 minutes.
Piñeiro should slot in opposite Randall Leal in Nashville’s starting XI. He’s also capable of playing centrally, giving Smith another option to relieve Hany Mukhtar, especially following Derrick Jones’s move to Houston.
The official announcement did not confirm which roster designation Piñeiro will occupy, although clubs have until the roster compliance deadline (one day before the season begins) to make those designations.
Piñeiro’s contract is guaranteed through 2023, with an option for the 2024 season. He’s the 13th player on Nashville’s roster age 25 or younger, including attackers like Jhonder Cádiz, Randall Leal, Hany Mukhtar and Daniel Ríos.
