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Former PSG target Acosta to join Atlas after D.C. United contract ends

Former Paris Saint-Germain target Luciano Acosta is set to join Liga MX club Atlas after parting ways with D.C. United at the end of the 2019 MLS season.

The 25-year-old Argentine spent four seasons at D.C. United and came close to leaving for PSG last January. But with his contract up, the attacking midfielder has chosen to continue his career in Guadalajara with Los Rojinegros.

Acosta rejected a new deal with D.C. United earlier this year and will officially join the Mexican team on Jan. 1 after his current contract officially runs out at the end of the month, Atlas announced on Thursday.

Acosta began his career at Boca Juniors and ended his time at D.C. United with a total of 24 goals and 35 assists from 126 MLS games. His best season came in 2018, when he recorded 17 assists and 10 goals and struck up a lethal partnership with Wayne Rooney to propel the team to the playoffs after a poor start to the campaign.

Acosta could make his debut for the club on Jan. 10 at Cruz Azul in its 2020 Clausura opener, with the club hoping to reach the playoffs having failed to do so in the 2019 Apertura.

Atlas haven't won a Liga MX title since 1951, but were taken over by Grupo Orlegi earlier this year and the club says it is now focusing on finding the balance between bringing in quality foreign players and utilizing a base of homegrown talent.