His arrival came with great fanfare.
His departure to Club Atletico Belgrano, on the other hand, came with something more akin to relief.
Lucas Melano’s time in Portland has likely come to an end, as on Monday Club Atletico Belgrano announced the enigmatic winger will be returning to his hometown club in Córdoba on loan with an option to buy.
But even if Melano will no longer take the field for the Timbers, his legacy is one that will stay in Portland for some time. And by virtue of the nature of his coming, his roller-coaster tenure in the Rose City, and his ultimate departure, Melano’s legacy in Portland is far from simple.