FC Cincinnati head coach Chris Albright explains Brenner absence following transfer interest

FC Cincinnati's preseason preparations continued with a 3-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Union on Friday but, once again, there was a key absentee: Brenner.

The Brazilian striker attracted serious interest from Europe during the January transfer window, with Serie A side Udinese even lodging a $9m bid.

Cincinnati rejected that offer - which was $4m below what they paid Sao Paulo for the player two years ago - and with windows around Europe now closed, it appears the former Brazil youth international will be staying at TQL Stadium.

Brenner is yet to report for preseason training but, calming fears among FC Cincinnati supporters, head coach Pat Noonan has confirmed his absence is due to something 'family related' and that the club remains in contact with him.

"Transfer stuff is now in the past, it's more just family related," said Noonan. "We're in communication with him. And it could be as early as 24 hours, but we just have to continue to communicate and make sure on his end that the family matter gets into a place where he's comfortable coming back and joining the group."

Though Noonan is calm about the situation, the player's absence this close to the 2023 MLS season - which Cincinnati begin at home to the Houston Dynamo on February 26 - is a matter of concern. After all, Brenner notched 18 goals and six assists in 29 regular season games last year.

"Of course, we have a key player that's away from the group right now and he was in really good form leading up to him going back to Brazil," Noonan responded when asked about the effect of Brenner's absence. "So we're hoping to get him back as soon as possible in a way where he won't have lost too much fitness or sharpness,

"But you know, we'll handle that when we get him back. So you could see it even on the field today, the things that he's able to do with the ball and the way that he sees and reads the game, he could have certainly helped us."