The unhappy marriage between striker Yura Movsisyan and Real Salt Lake is over.
The Tribune confirmed Friday afternoon that Movsisyan, the team’s highest-paid player last season, has been waived by RSL after growing increasingly discontent with his lack of playing time during the 2017 season. The story was first reported by mlssoccer.com.
By cutting ties with Movsisyan, Real Salt Lake dropped its senior roster down to the 20-player maximum ahead of Thursday’s roster compliance deadline. The club has not, however, shed responsibility for his salary. Movsisyan’s contract extends through the 2019 season, and he is guaranteed almost $2 million in each of the next two years.
Major League Soccer clubs will have the chance to claim Movsisyan off waivers, and he will go to the team offering to absorb the highest salary budget charge. Even if he is claimed, RSL will have to pay the difference between Movsisyan’s salary and his new club’s offer for at least the 2018 season.
A year ago, Movsisyan was positioned as the centerpiece of RSL’s attack. At that time, the Armenian international was entering his second season in Salt Lake after leaving MLS from 2010 through 2015 to play in Europe.