This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In late July, general manager Craig Waibel sat behind his desk in his office at Rio Tinto Stadium and spoke of Luis Gil's future at Real Salt Lake. Gil was tabbed as one of the next it talents in American soccer even before he had a driver's permit. He signed with RSL when he was 16 after worldwide interest from some major clubs.

But six years after arriving at RSL, Gil was out-of-contract at the end of the 2015 season. And Waibel knew the future was where Gil would want to make it.

"There's a 1,000 decisions to be made," Waibel said in July.

Turns out, it may be just one.

A report from Ives Galarcep of Goal.com Wednesday morning states that Gil is set to sign with LigaMX side Queretaro FC on a free transfer. RSL did make Gil a Bona Fide Offer, which means RSL would retain Gil's MLS rights should he want to return to the league sometime down the road.

RSL had no comment on the report.

The reported move comes a few weeks after other reports that RSL's other out-of-contract midfielder — Luis Silva — was headed to Mexico to sign with RSL's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal opponent Tigres UANL. This time last year, former RSL center back Carlos Salcedo finalized his move to Chivas de Guadalajara.

Gil appeared in 134 regular-season games at RSL, logging 7,819 minutes. He started 89 matches and scored 11 goals and notched nine assists. In 2013, Gil had his best year as a pro. He appeared in 30 matches, starting 24 of them. He scored a career-high five goals that year and was a starter in the 2013 MLS Cup final at Sporting Park.

The last two seasons, however, Gil's starts dipped — as did his production. Gil managed one goal and one assist. The goal came in what looks to have been his last game in an RSL jersey — the 3-1 loss at Seattle on Oct. 25 — in the last game of the season.

He was awarded the No. 10 jersey before the 2015 campaign started by coach Jeff Cassar.

"It can give him a little bit of a breath of fresh air and he deserves it and when you put that jersey on, there's some responsibility that comes with that as well," Cassar said in January. "Hopefully he grabs that and runs with it."

Gil spoke to the Tribune earlier this year and called the 2015 season "a rollercoaster." Acknowledging the uncertain circumstances, Gil said he wasn't focusing on the future, rather personal improvement.

"Every player's different," he said. "Some break out when they're 20-years-old, some at the average age when they're at 26 or 27 when they really break out. To me, I'm still searching to get there. When that year comes, I'm going to take advantage of it."

Sounds like it won't be at RSL, but instead in Mexico and at Queretaro FC.

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani