Suspended Minnesota United star Emanuel Reynoso arrives in Minnesota, remains unavailable to play

Suspended and absent Minnesota United star Emanuel Reynoso has returned to Minnesota, the club announced Saturday.

In a statement, the Loons said the two-time MLS All-Star remains unavailable for all team activities until further notice "as he works toward reintegration with the club."

Reynoso was suspended without pay in February by Major League Soccer for failing to report in the preseason. He had signed a new contract late last season that was intended to keep him with the Loons through 2026.

He didn't report to the team's training facility in Blaine when teammates did in early January and had remained at home in Argentina since then because of what the club only termed "personal matters."

"I haven't really thought about that," Loons coach Adrian Heath said after his team's 3-2 loss at Vancouver on Saturday night. "Obviously, he's back here and we'll have a chat over the weekend and see what he's like and then we can address that then. I have too much other stuff going through my head at the moment."

Added defender DJ Taylor: "Obviously, we heard the news. But, I think the guys, we were all focused on us and what we've been doing. We've had to play without Reynoso. Our main focus was just on us, on the team. When we get to see Reynoso, we get to see Reynoso and we'll address it then. I think most of us were just focused on tonight's game."

The Loons started the season 3-4-3 without him and were winless at home with a 0-1-3 record at Allianz Field and 3-3 on the road with Saturday's loss.

Last Sunday's FS1 broadcast of the Loons-FC Dallas game reported a club representative had been in Argentina two weeks earlier and believed Reynoso was within 24 hours of getting on a plane to Minnesota.

He didn't.

Heath also spoke about the matter after that home game last Sunday.

"We've had people down [in Argentina] and we've spoken to Rey consistently," Heath said. "It was disappointing because we thought he was going to be back. So we'll keep asking the question and hopefully some sort of common sense will prevail and he gets on a plane and comes back here."

Heath indicated throughout preseason and into a regular season that started in late February that expected Reynoso to report to the club almost any day now.

Heath also repeatedly said Reynoso's absence was unrelated to his legal troubles stemming from a December 2021 gun-related arrest in his hometown of Cordoba, Argentina.

The Loons acquired Reynoso from his Boca Juniors club in Argentina, signed to one of the club's three Designated Player slots. He set an MLS record by recording three assists each in consecutive games while leading the Loons to the Western Conference final at Seattle and within minutes of reaching the MLS Cup final.

Heath made Reynoso one of his 12 coach's picks for August's MLS All-Star Game played at Allianz Field and has always maintained he is a MVP talent if only he scores as much as he creates for others. Reynoso also was selected for the 2021 All-Star Game but was injured.

"When you get an opportunity to sign an MVP type player, you want to keep them type of players around," Heath said at the time last September. "We're just pleased he has committed the main part of his career to us and now we have to build around him, to put the right pieces that will allow him to flourish. That's what the aim will be over the next few years."