That
Racing
is one of the teams that strengthened the most and the one that invested the most money in this transfer market has a logical explanation: it has been one of the teams that raised the most in recent months.
The current image of the brand new coach
Gustavo Costa
with his eight reinforcements, which could be nine if the arrival of midfielder Agustín Urzi is finalized - for now far from the numbers - is directly related to the postcards of departures of different footballers.
The data is shocking: in the last year and a half, the Academy sold more than 40 million dollars.
Gustavo Costas, the new Racing coach.
Photo: Matías Martin Campaya - CLARIN
President Víctor Blanco
's recipe
has been more or less the same since he took office in the now distant 2014: spend less than what is generated.
That ironclad premise, however, has brought him some headaches during 2023 because there were many fans who demanded greater aggressiveness in the transfer markets based on the idea that "football clubs tend to be in deficit."
Perhaps for that reason, from January 2023 to the present, Racing closed 18 additions.
"I understand the discomfort and insults of some fans, but in all these years we have handled ourselves in the same way in the transfer markets. We always said that we were not going to mortgage the club and we kept it. Today we have a healthy economy and we can invest" Blanco explains to
Clarín
. And he adds: "Now the majority of the team's footballers belong to Racing because circumstances allow us to. I remember that in 2014 we had to put together a squad with all loans because the conditions were different. Today we are a institution respected by everyone, both for selling and buying, and the majority of players are interested in coming.”
Víctor Blanco, president of Racing.
Photo: CLARIN
In this market, Racing raised more than 15 million dollars for the departures of Gonzalo Piovi (3,500,000 to Cruz Azul), Aníbal Moreno (7,000,000 to Palmeiras) and Agustín Ojeda (7,500,000 to New York City of the MLS ; the Academy had 75 percent of the pass).
To these we must add the previous games, among which those of Enzo Copetti (6,500,000 to Charlotte of the MLS), Carlos Alcaraz (14,000,000 to Southampton of the Premier League), Martín Ojeda (4,000,000 to Orlando City of the MLS) and Tomás Avilés (9,000,000 to Inter Miami of the MLS).
A clarification from Blanco regarding collections is important.
“Sometimes you read 10, 20, 30 million in the headlines, but half of that goes into the club, 60 percent.
There are taxes to pay, commissions, agreements with other teams that have percentages of the footballers,” warns the president.
And he continues: "I think we closed one of the many good transfer markets and we are excited. In 2014 we made an extraordinary market and without money; in 2016 with Chacho Coudet we also incorporated very well. Afterwards, it depends a lot if things turn out or not at the level football".
With the departure of manager Ruben Capria, the incorporations (which will be officially presented on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Cilindro, with free admission) were agreed between Costas and the Board of Directors.
And they both agreed that they should reinforce each of the lines.
2 million dollars were paid
for
Facundo Cambeses and he arrived to compete for the position with
Gabriel Arias
.
“I am a person who really likes challenges.
The word compete will make me demand much more from myself.
I spoke with my representative and told him that I wanted to come to Racing.
That Vélez called me, that they made arrangements to have me, was also very nice.
Because they were two big clubs that were fighting to have me
,” said Cambeses, who signed a contract for 3 seasons.
Costas' biggest concern revolves around the center markers.
Leonardo Sigali
went through the preseason with various ailments, while
Nazareno Colombo
suffered a grade 2 external sprain in his right ankle and would only return at the beginning of March.
Germán Conti
(one million dollars to Lokomotiv of Russia) and
Agustín García Basso
(750,000 dollars) arrived
, despite the fact that neither will play in Saturday's debut against Unión in the Cilindro.
“I hope to live up to the famous first great
,” said García Basso, after the medical examination.
“There are many things that come into play when making a decision.
The challenge is what is taken into consideration the most,” concluded the 31-year-old defender, who can play as a central marker or left back.
In the midfield, the Academy opted for two former River players: Bruno Zuculini (free; signed for 2 years) and Santiago Sosa (on loan with an option from Atlanta of the MLS).
“I am where I want to be and I love seeing Racing grow,” Zucu declared.
The largest investment of the Avellaneda cast was for
Santiago Solari
: 4 million dollars were paid to Defensa y Justicia.
The 25-year-old right winger signed for 4 seasons.
𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗘𝗥𝗭𝗢𝗦
🗓️ Thursday 01-25
🕣 8 pm
🏟️ Presidente Perón Stadium
🎫 Free entry
ℹ️ Admission via Pasaje Corbatta from 6 pm. pic.twitter. com/W9Wkp8V19o
— Racing Club (@RacingClub) January 23, 2024
The other academic disbursements were for forwards: a loan for Maximiliano Salas and 2 million dollars for Adrián
Maravilla
Martínez, who arrived free from Instituto de Córdoba.
Thus, the Racing team appears to be one of the most competitive to face the League Cup, the Professional League, the Argentine Cup and the South American Cup.
To the new reinforcements we must add those who arrived in the previous two markets: Nardoni, Gabriel Rojas, Almendra, Colombo, Juanfer Quintero, Roger Martínez and Martirena.
“I know that the fans need an international tournament.
In Racing you have to put on that backpack of going for more,” Costas summarized to
Clarín
.
And the feeling is unmistakable: the coach has a great squad to allow himself to dream.