Is Fossati staying? Is there negotiation with Yotún? Five answers about the U and what it plans for its historic Centennial

Will Fossati stay for all of 2024?

A week after winning the historic championship in Matute, Jorge Fossati He began a quick press tour, given the imminence of his trip: he returned to Uruguay that Saturday, celebrated his 71st birthday with his family and had to leave everything ready to start the preseason on December 18. He spoke with confidence and a certain joy, but there was a reflective tone in him that looked to the immediate future, as if he were in a medical meeting that diagnoses the next step to cure the patient: “We are going to maintain the champion’s base,” he said. “We need one per line,” he assured. “What I can promise is work and in that sense, a big club always has to promise the championship,” he said. It was not, of course, the fateful days of the absolute angry selection of the Qualifiers. Nor about the invitation for Reynoso to resign.

A few days later, DT spoke with Jean Ferrari, club administrator, who assured: “We are in full planning for the Centennial. I haven’t even sat down to consider the magnitude of winning a title like that, because of the rush. And in the case of Jorge, it is not even under evaluation that he can go to the national team.” Before traveling, Fossati signed an update of his contract with the U. The bond he has with the team is unbreakable, so much so that in the last few hours he has had brief talks with the captain, Aldo Corzo. Until the closing of this edition, no one moved Fossati from the Monumental.

The Yotún case

Sixty thousand people arrived at the stadium on Sunday when League 1 presented the cup, thinking of a footballer who was neither going to go out on the field, nor was he going to celebrate the title; He didn’t even play for the club. It was Yoshimar Yotún. Jean Ferrari had given a note to DT and published that Sunday, it was the viral of the day. “I love Yotún. The midfield that we would have with Piero, Rodrigo and Martín”, was the verbatim. Since that weekend, the fans of the ‘U’ have surrendered to the sky blue captain on social networks, the tweeters have looked for some legal trick, some trick, some authentic interpretation of the fine print of his contract at Rímac, and, of course, Of course, the cream administration has started a private negotiation that, according to information handled by DT, “has excited the player.”

What is known today? First, Yotún has a contract with Cristal and a clause that would allow him to go abroad. Second, that he has authorized his representative, Ginafranco Revelli, to listen to the intention of the U and review the specific project. Finally, on vacation with his family, Yotún will analyze all the possibilities of the contract – three years and other advantages – and only upon his return will he make a decision.

When will this be? Next week. In Cristal they have no doubts: he is going to stay. In the U, however, every second that passes if an official statement from Yoshi is gained. And in the last hours Alianza got into the fight.

The rival of La Noche Crema

Plan A in Universitario is to establish a historic rival: Independiente de Avellaneda, which Carlos Tevez directs today. The idea is to commemorate the final of the 1972 Copa Libertadores, which pitted Rojos and Cremas in two-way clashes, and pay tribute to the symbol footballers of that campaign, above all, Percy Rojas, idol of both institutions. The chosen day is January 20, 2024. Tickets are already on sale today.

The Centennial T-shirt

Five jerseys will be offered by Universitario and Marathon to their fans next 2024, a symbolic year, a centenary year. These are five models already approved by the administration and the club’s marketing area that, as DT learned, will be distributed as follows: in the first days of December, the cream t-shirt that the U will use at home in the season, a historic uniform that aims to break all the club’s sales records -15 thousand average per year-. In summer the alternate uniform will be public, to play as a visitor. Both will have an exclusive model for goalkeepers. And the Centennial shirt? It goes on sale next August 7, it would be cream and long sleeves. Finally, there would be another t-shirt whose design is almost a state secret, which would appear on the market towards the end of the 2024 season. T-shirts, yes, that will be worn as a tailcoat.

Is Ruidíaz coming?

Up to three sources close to Raúl’s entourage agree: he wants to return. He has discussed it with Edison Flores, with Andy Polo, with Tito Urruti and even, some time ago, with a University worker, the day they paid tribute to him at the Monumental (2019). In the club, the authoritative voice of captain Aldo Corzo, told DT a few months ago what he knew about that return: “The most important thing,” he said, “is that he wants to. The U is his home, he is welcome whenever he wants.” Any survey on networks about the possibility of it being the 9th of the Centennial would, without a doubt, win by an overwhelming majority. He nor Gareca the days before Russia.

However, it is not that simple. Raúl Ruidíaz has a contract through 2024 with the Seattle Sounders of the MLS, he has a very high salary/impossible to pay per month and he is also a franchise player, that is, a footballer with benefits and responsibilities above average. Like Lodeiro, like Busquets, like Messi. These conditions make it difficult for him to secure a loan. “As in the case of Edison, a lot will depend on him and what he can negotiate with his club,” says Jean Ferrari, optimistic but down to earth. Alonso Contreras, a Peruvian journalist in the MLS, told DirecTV about the only possibility of a loan happening: “The club that receives the player must pay the monthly payment that Raúl earns today.” It would be necessary to have a Noche Crema every month to, with that box office, pay that amount.

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