As expected, Austin FC parts ways with Cecilio Domínguez

Though it’s been a practical reality for months, the Cecilio Domínguez era officially came to a close for Austin FC on Saturday.

The club released a statement saying a mutual agreement had been reached between the two parties to terminate Domínguez’s contract. Domínguez hasn’t played for Austin FC since late March, as the MLS briefly suspended him in early April after a domestic complaint.

Domínguez was never arrested or charged with a crime. After an investigation by the league and local law enforcement, he was cleared to play by the MLS in May, but he never stepped on the field again.

When asked about Domínguez’s status with the club over the past few months, head coach Josh Wolff gave vague, somewhat evasive answers, but in recent weeks he seemed to indicate Austin FC was shopping him in the summer transfer window.

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Parting ways with Domínguez, one of the team’s three designated players, will allow El Tree to make a major roster addition, and ESPN Brazil reported more than a week ago that Argentinian winger Emiliano Rigoni will soon be signed by the club. Rigoni and Domínguez play the same position.

Rigoni’s time at Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia overlapped with current Austin FC midfielder Sebastián Driussi.

Wolff was asked about the ESPN Brazil report on Rigoni during his weekly press conference. “That’s not a player on our roster,” he said.

Rigoni is a current member of São Paulo FC in Brazil.

As it has since late March, El Tree will enter Saturday night's home game against the New York Red Bulls with only two designated players.

But it’s something that, impressively, hasn’t hurt Austin FC, which has the second-best record in the league.

Domínguez was Austin FC’s first designated player, signing in December 2020. In 38 appearances over two seasons, he scored nine goals and recorded three assists.