Colorado Rapids decline transfer option on U22 Initiative defender Lucas Esteves, Brazilian will return to Palmeiras
Colorado Rapids passed up on a significant deadline Thursday and left back Lucas Esteves will return to Brazil. Colorado retained his MLS rights on Nov. 22 and had until Dec. 1 to negotiate a transfer deal. The Brazilian side wanted $1 million plus a 50% sell-on clause, but Colorado declined. Eesteves made 47 appearances for Colorado since arriving in the summer of 2021. He had his loan extended through the end of the 2022 campaign in summer. The team will get a fresh U22 Initiative slot, which incentivizes acquiring promising prospects for a fraction of a cap space.
