This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Real Salt Lake has signed midfielder David Viana on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid's second reserve team in Spain, the team announced Tuesday — just hours before it plays Tauro FC in a crucial CONCACAF Champions League game in Panama.
It's not know when the 20-year-old former Portuguese national team player will join the team, however, because he still needs to obtain a work visa and transfer certificate, and must return to Europe to aid the process.
Viana began a trial with RSL last week, and played in its reserve game against Sporting KC on Thursday and signed before the Major League Soccer roster deadline on Friday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We're excited to add a talented young player like David to the team," general manager Garth Lagerwey said. "We believe he'll be a valuable addition to our roster long-term and think he can give us another attacking option."
Viana spent nearly a year with Atletico Madrid's reserves, RSL said, and was regularly called up to train with the first team. He was part of the youth system at RC Strasbourg in France, before transferring to Atletico when Strasbourg was relegated from Ligue 1 after the 2010-11 season.