Secrets of Atlético Tucumán: the $ 12 million team that outshines River and Boca

This Wednesday, River was unable to face Arsenal and left Sarandí’s signing tables. And Boca, a couple of hours later, shared points with Rosario Central in a hot Bombonera, remaining nine behind. Atlético Tucumán couldn’t add three, but their draw had a different flavor. The ‘Dean’ draws against Tigre in Victoria, does not lose and begins to bet in the league.

Pusineri’s team is a serious matter: eight wins, five draws and only one lost for Atlético Tucumán, who have 29, one more than Gimnasia, their stash. The big names on the other hand do not react, despite their millionaire budgets. Is that Atlético is even more surprising when it comes to reviewing the numbers.

According to the portal Transfermarkt -specialized in transfers and transfer market issues-, Tucuman’s team is rated just above 12 million dollars, numbers very far from those of teams like River and Boca. The ‘Millionaire’ has a market value that reaches $ 96 million while ‘Xeneize’ is valued at 79 million dollars. But in the Professional League, the ‘Dean’ is ahead.

Another point where Atlético can barely overshadow the two giants of Argentine football is the question of reinforcements. The team from the capital of Tucuman included five players, but also lost several soldiers. Seven players were looking for new horizons and, for this reason, in the ‘Dean’ they tried to fill in the best possible way the gaps left in the squad.

command It was successful in the market. Carlos Lampe arrived free from Vélez, and today he is the undisputed owner; Jonathan Sandoval has arrived on loan from Argentinos and is currently recovering from a tear; Colombian Andrés Balanta made himself available to Pusineri to reinforce the midfield; Mateo Coronel has established himself as a good replacement after his stint at Paternal; and Paraguayan Enrique Borja covered Andrada’s exit forward.

Coronel, Sandoval and Balanta joined in similar operations: free loans. The former Independiente DT squad has strengthened in all lines, and has kept a steady pace to enjoy this gift. Those who have arrived have done so at no cost, and have already begun to produce results. Across the street are Boca and River, who have added big names but can’t find a way around it.

Those led by Ibarra have lost three of their most important pillars in recent years, such as Salvio, Izquierdoz and Pavón. In addition, the La Ribera club sold Gastón Ávila for over $ 4 million. Martín Payero, Facundo Roncaglia and Sergio Romero arrived. The defender and the goalkeeper did it with the pass in their possession, while the midfielder did it on loan and free of charge. For now the reinforcements do not finish joining the team.

With River, the contrast is much stronger. Núñez’s club got rid of a lot of his money, and sold for millions of dollars: 10 million dollars entered into the coffers of the Monumental for Enzo Fernández’s pass, another million for the transfer of Braian Romero and another of the fees that Manchester City are paying for Julián Álvarez. The expense to be incorporated was also very high.

River added Rodrigo Aliendro, who arrived free from Colón, even if there was an agreement in the middle. Jorge Brito put 400 thousand dollars on the table to speed up the midfielder’s departure and to purchase an additional percentage of Alex Vigo’s pass. For Colombian Miguel Borja, they paid out 8 million dollars. At the ‘Millionaire’, Pablo Solari cost him 5 million dollars in exchange for maintaining 60% of your pass.

To this was added another charge of 400 thousand dollars so that Aliendro could play the Copa Libertadores 2022 under the orders of Marcelo Gallardo. River spent about $ 13.8 million to add three new names to think about defending the title. For now, the team does not finish adapting to the TD’s ideas, and yesterday’s draw sentenced the ‘Millionaire’ to be seven from the top.

And this is where the tasks of Lucas Pusineri and his team stand out even more, which not only incorporated what they had to incorporate, but also made the team work. Today, with thirteen finals ahead of them, Atlético are thrilled to claim the title and outrun the millionaire teams of River and Boca. Without many names of weight, but with a squad in which everyone pulls for the same part, the ‘Dean’ aims for the enterprise.