Miguel Ibarra’s verve on the left side of the soccer pitch endeared the miniature midfielder to United FC fans during his more than three seasons in Minnesota.

A year after his transfer to Club Leon of Mexico last June, more fans still wore Ibarra’s jersey than any other when United played Sporting Kansas City on June 15 at the National Sports Center.

When the Loons attack fired blanks over the past month, coach Carl Craig wished Ibarra’s play-making remained in their arsenal. Related Articles Houston Dynamo scores twice in 2nd half to tie Minnesota United

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“When we had Ibarra, we would sit deep because he would tear off. We would float the ball out wide, and he was away,” said Craig, an assistant in Minnesota under Manny Lagos during Ibarra’s tenure. “We don’t got that anymore. We don’t have that player.”

Ibarra will be back on Saturday when Club Leon and United play the first soccer match on the outfield grass of the Minnesota Twins’ Target Field.

“I definitely miss playing with him, with what he brings to the table,” said United striker Christian Ramirez, who leads United with five goals.

Ibarra will be a groomsman in Ramirez’s December wedding, and Ramirez had to chide Ibarra about being one of the last groomsmen to get fitted for his tuxedo. When the Loons lost to Sporting KC, Ramirez flew the next day to relax in his native California. But first, he attended to Ibarra’s unfinished business.

“It sucks that he hasn’t had consistent minutes there because they would be able to see that,” he said. “(Ibarra) will break through and continue to fight to show that.”

With Ibarra playing in a limited role because of injuries, Club Leon reached the semifinals of Liga MX, the top tier of Mexican soccer last season. He’s set to play on Saturday, and United supporters will march from Minneapolis bars to the ballpark in hopes of seeing his long runs.

When United received nearly $1 million from Leon for Ibarra’s transfer in June 2015, the move came as a surprise because Ibarra was the face of a club circled to make the jump as a Major League Soccer franchise in as soon as 2017.

When the move occurred, team president Nick Rogers vowed the club would not become known for selling its best talent. Team owner Bill McGuire, who made his wealth as CEO of UnitedHealth Group, has routinely said he wants to be a team competitive on a global scale.

Part of Ibarra’s transfer was a deal for the teams to play a friendly in July 2015 at NSC in Blaine. Ibarra played the first half with United, then switched kits to Leon at halftime. That setup won’t occur this year.

“(Coaches) said I’m definitely going to get more playing time now, and this is going to be my time,” Ibarra said.

Since Ibarra’s transfer, the Loons have added a few MLS veterans and top players from NASL. But to navigate the upward climb to MLS, sporting director Manny Lagos will have to pull the trigger on more player deals. One much anticipated avenue for a talent infusion will come from MLS’ “designated player” system, which allows clubs to set aside three players for the club to pay more handsomely than others.

Ibarra helped put the club re-branded as United on the soccer map in 2014 when the California native became the first second-division player to be called up to the U.S. men’s national team since 2005. He called that patriotic moment, and the send off he received from the Dark Clouds supporters during his last match, his two fondest memories.

Ibarra, 26, said social media often lights up with messages longing for him to return to Minnesota in MLS.

“People have asked me that like 100 times,” Ibarra said. “As of right now, my main focus is trying to get more minutes with Leon and continue to impress the coaching staff that I can play here. Maybe later on in the future, if there’s an opportunity, I will think about it.”