University: the silent stance of the League 1 champion on the negotiation of Fossati and Oblitas, ten days before the preseason

At Universitario, however, they do not decide what appears on the networks. And rather, as controversial and weak as it may seem, they decided from day one when they officially learned about Juan Carlos Oblitas’ trip to Uruguay to talk with his coach, that no one from the club would make a statement. They have their reasons.

-The position on Fossati-

Up to three sources within the Betsson 2023 League 1 champion with whom DT was able to speak agree on something: Fossati was the best coach of the championship and, given the way the team with Juan Reynoso ended the year – last with 2 points in the Qualifiers – it was “natural” that they looked for the Uruguayan coach and were interested in knowing if he was in a position to listen to an offer. “Its normal. There is a champion coach in the biggest team in the country,” said one of them.

A week ago, and given the good relations between the FPF and Universitario -Oblitas, for example, it is very close to the Ferrari administration. In fact, he went to Nacional for the match with Venezuela with Antonio García Pye, student advisor today and former FPF-, there was a meeting between both institutions to specify two things: 1) The interest in Fossati and the details of his contract. 2) The idea of ​​negotiating as soon as possible, trying not to harm the U on its way to the Centennial. It was Jean Ferrari who contacted Fossati, told him about the meeting and the 71-year-old Uruguayan agreed to listen to the proposal. The DT cover from last Sunday – see here – showed this.

What happened from that Friday until today? First, Jorge Fossati’s public statements on a radio station in his country, where he said that “the Peruvian Federation spoke with the Universitario authorities, who do not agree, and that apparently the football director would travel to Uruguay to meet with me. “I am honored that the national team of the country where I am working is looking for me.” And that was later consolidated with another radio interview in which he said that “I do not deny (…) that there were contacts, but everything is undefined until I receive official proof that everything is closed with the national team coach Juan Reynoso.” The agreement with the U was that Fossati could listen to the project – which would include surveillance of all categories, together with Chemo del Solar – and then make a decision. Second, the void, the gray area that until today traps everything: in Videna they have not reached any agreement with Reynoso, who has even continued to assist Videna along with his technical command, and that, according to information handled by DT, “no progress was made.” ”. This point is key to understanding the case: Fossati was informed by FPF that the issue was about to be closed and, four days after the alleged separation of the current coach, this is not even under discussion: the lawyer Mathías Fariña, Juan’s agent, It is not in Peru. On the contrary, Reynoso’s entourage has told DT that “it is not appropriate for the FPF to speak with another coach when there is a coach in office.”

Universitario has witnessed all this and although the decision not to make any statement public has upset dozens of fans, who demand a statement, a statement, perhaps a Twitter thread, they will not communicate anything official until Jorge Fossati, their coach, Contact the club until next week. They have their reasons: this Thursday they present a new book about the history of the club at the Ricardo Palma Book Fair, and at around 7:24 p.m. they announce the model of the shirt they will wear all season; Two foreign reinforcements are being announced this weekend, and on Monday there would be a press conference at Lolo de Breña to show the new sports coliseum to the media.

And above all, the main reason: Fossati has a signed contract with the U and in the event of any contingency – an offer, for example – he must inform and negotiate the departure under the conditions stipulated in the contract. University is the employer, not the employee. The U does not want to fire Fossati, it is Fossati who evaluates the possibility of leaving. In that subtlety there are several hundred thousand dollars.

Interview from minute 53

However, it is true that the U has thought about a plan B. The name that was most discussed in the last few hours was that of Ricardo Gareca, Apertura champion with the U 2008. It is, of course, nothing new: Gareca He is very fond of the club, he has told his close friends in Lima that he would “only accept” managing Universitario in Peru, and he has a very close relationship with Antonio García Pye. He consulted AGP on the subject, he could only say: “For now there is nothing to report.” But he has also commented that he wants to “detoxify” Peruvian football for a while and perhaps think about directing in another medium, which will return him to high competition. A selection, for example. At the U, out of respect for the current coach, with whom they want to start the preseason and who has given his word to carry forward the project of being two-time champions in the Centennial, they have not made any further progress. The profile, of course, is maintained: an experienced coach, preferably Argentine or Uruguayan, with titles on his CV and a great approach to the players. What they went looking for when Compagnucci came out.

For some, an affront to the interests of the club. For others, too much warmth. And for some others, among whom I am, the nature of a negotiation that moves minute by minute, dynamic as soccer is, with logical risks that tarnish what until a few days ago was all happiness: University champion on the field, first in attendance, attractive for sponsors. Today when you read this note, Fossati has a signed contract with the U, FPF has promised to resolve the relationship with Reynoso no later than next Monday and the lawyer Fariña does not want to know anything about negotiating. What else could the U do but wait and take precautions? The leaders can barely behave like fans at the moment of the goal on a Sunday. The rest of the week they can only act as cold, goal-seeking managers. If there is a club that for decades took the wrong path and suffered – is suffering – those consequences, it is the U.