Moretti did not take over as president of San Lorenzo and the first problem arose: does he leave a key player free for Insua?

“Insua asked us for six reinforcements and the retention of 14 players from the current squad”He said Marcelo Moretti moments after meeting the new president-elect of Saint Lawrence after being informed by the electoral council that last Sunday he had obtained 36% of the vote in a record election for the Boedo club. Among the names that Gallego indicated as a priority to continue in 2024 is that of Raffaele Perez; The Colombian, however, is about to free himself.

Moretti has not yet formally taken over as Barça’s top coach (he will do so next Tuesday, December 26) and already has his first big problem looming. San Lorenzo is one step away from losing a fundamental starter in the structure of the team led by Ruben Darío Insua.

It is clear that this is a legacy issue that may not even arrive next week. The fact is that Pérez has notified San Lorenzo via FIFA of a bonus debt and is asking for freedom of action if it is not canceled as soon as possible. That is to say, the Colombian will no longer be able to be a Ciclón player when the new management takes over.

The situation, according to what the Boedo club claims, has nothing to do with the debt itself, which – they say – would be just two months late. But Rafa Pérez wants to return to his country and everything is very advanced with Junior de Barranquilla, the club where he played between 2017 and 2019 before arriving at Argentine football. And it is precisely the execution of the call that is the card played to end the relationship immediately given that he still has a year left on his contract with San Lorenzo.

For Insua he is a key man, immovable in the Ciclón defense. In total he played 52 games with the rossoblù shirt, all as a starter, and scored two goals in 2023. For the coach it was the sign of a year that will be full of emotions with local competitions and the Copa Libertadores.

To make matters worse, the continuity in the background Gastone Campi, whose contract is expiring. Campi had a proposal from Alianza Lima, but it did not go ahead and he is now starting talks with Néstor Ortigoza, who will be responsible for football in the new Board of Directors, to renew.

If Pérez’s sudden departure occurs, It would be the third confirmed victim behind the departure of Jalil Elias to Malaysian football (free) and the return of Federico Girotti at Talleres de Córdoba, who took advantage of the play-offs to get him back after four months on loan.

There are now several fronts that Moretti and his team will have to attack as soon as they take over the reins of the club. Loans expire Battle of Augustus (River), Facundo Altamirano (Banfield) e Gonzalo Maroni (Mouth). At the same time, the connections of Manuel Insaurralde and of Nicola Blandias well as Campi.

For Altamirano there was a purchase option of 1.6 million dollars, which expired on Wednesday, so for him it would have to be renegotiated with the Drill. In the last hours, Hurricane He came in to demonstrate a strong interest in the goalkeeper who seeks continuity.