'Thank you, Sava': Real Salt Lake transfers Jefferson Savarino to Brazil's Botafogo

The 26-year-old winger led RSL with 11 goals across all competitions in 2023, including a team-high seven goals in MLS play.

The long-rumored day is finally here.

Real Salt Lake announced the departure of forward Jefferson Savarino on Saturday, returning the Venezuelan international striker to Brazil at Botafogo and freeing up an international roster spot and Designated Player slot.

Savarino led RSL with 11 goals across all competitions in 2023, including a team-high seven goals in MLS play. The. 26-year-old winger has totaled 40 goals in 142 appearances during two separate stints in Utah from 2017-2020 and 2022-23.

In between, Savarino spent two years in Brazil with Atletico Mineiro, where he scored 14 goals in 53 appearances and helped the championships in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, Copa de Brasil and Supercopa do Brasil in 2021 and 2022.

“We’d like to thank Jefferson for his years of service to our club,” said RSL Sporting Director Kurt Schmid. “We wish him and his family the best as they return to Brazil, and everyone here in Utah is grateful for Sava’s contributions to our growth in recent years.”

The move is the second DP spot opened by RSL this offseason, after club legend Damir Kreilach joined the Vancouver Whitecaps on a new deal. Returning striker Chicho Arango is also a DP, and U22 Initiative winger Andrés Gómez is also a high-priced part of the RSL attack.

Real Salt Lake also added Fidel Barajas from USL Championship side Charleston Battery. The 17-year-old Mexican youth international winger was the USL Championship Young Player of the Year in 2023 after totaling five goals and 13 assists in 37 games for Charleston.

U.S. youth international star Diego Luna could also be in line for a new contract as the former El Paso standout in the USL Championship makes his way to men’s national team camp in Florida for the first time in his career. Luna, 20, is under contract with RSL through the 2024 season after paying El Paso a then-USL record transfer fee of $250,000, with club options in 2025 and 2026.

Tom Bogert from The Athletic reported that Botafogo offered a deal “around $2.7 million” for the Vinotinto international, with RSL also retaining a portion of any future sell-on fee, as well.