Luciano Acosta hammers booing FC Cincinnati fans after return with FC Dallas | OneFootball

Luciano Acosta was booed by FC Cincinnati fans in his much-anticipated first return to Southwestern Ohio on Wednesday night.

And after helping FC Dallas to a 3-3 draw in an entertaining encounter at TQL Stadium, the 2023 MLS MVP told the MLS Season Pass TV crew he thought the reception was unwarranted.

"To be honest, I expected something different. I thought there would be a different kind of welcome -- they booed me," Acosta said in Spanish. "But I know what I did here, what I did for this club. The truth is, the fans should be grateful. We gave them a Supporters’ Shield, an MVP, a Goal of the Year. I think they should be more appreciative. But I know what I did -- the memories I created."

The comments certainly won't endear the 30-year-old Argentine to his former fans, after numerous reports indicated that he asked to leave the club with time remaining on his contract.

Much of the reporting earlier in the winter suggested Acosta would return to the Argentine top flight before Dallas swooped in February on a $5 million trade-for-cash transaction. Cincinnati then moved to sign the 26-year-old Evander from the Portland Timbers in a $12 million cash trade as Acosta's replacement.

Twellman praises 'maturation' of Cincy fans

MLS Season Pass analyst and two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Taylor Twellman said that if Acosta was surprised by the fan response Wednesday, he shouldn't have been.

"He asked to leave FC Cincinnati. He did. Cincinnati didn’t say you’re leaving. You asked to leave," Twellman said during Wednesday's MLS Wrap-Up show. "That is a sign of the maturation of the Cincinnati fan, in my opinion, the fact that they’re holding their former MVP accountable. What did you want? The red carpet to come out? You asked to leave my city. If I’m a paying customer, I’m booing your ass. That’s what I’m doing."

So far, Evander is having the much more productive season, scoring seven goals and assisting five more, while Acosta only has three goals and has yet to assist any.

But the draw will feel like a point earned for Dallas and two dropped for Cincy after the visitors rallied from 2-0 down to tie, then answered again with Sebastien Ibheaga's stoppage-time header after Gerardo Valenzuela restored Cincy's lead in the 86th minute.