Debt to Ecuadorian club forces Botafogo to offload youth player | OneFootball

Independiente del Valle has contacted Botafogo to collect a debt of US$500,000 (R$2.5 million at the current exchange rate) related to the signing of goalkeeper Cristhian Loor. To resolve the issue, the Rio club is considering sending the player back to the Ecuadorian team.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that Botafogo is already considering returning Cristhian Loor as an alternative to settle the matter. The idea is to negotiate with Independiente del Valle a solution that would clear the debt between the clubs.

Cristhian Loor was signed in June 2025 at the request of former coach Renato Paiva, during the transfer window before the Club World Cup. Botafogo announced the goalkeeper on the 7th of that month, with a contract running until December 2028. The deal was a permanent transfer.

Cristhian Loor did not play for the senior team

The signing, however, had little sporting impact. Cristhian Loor has yet to play a single match for Botafogo’s senior team since arriving at the club. The Ecuadorian was unable to earn a place in the main squad and was involved with the youth setup.

Since joining Botafogo, the Ecuadorian has played six official matches, all for the Under-20 team. In 2026, there were three matches: against Madureira and Boavista in the Campeonato Carioca, and against Avaí in the Brasileirão of the category.

The Ecuadorian was the last option for the black-and-white club’s goal

Since arriving at the club, the player has faced strong competition for his position. Despite standing out in training, he was never in the plans of Davide Ancelotti or Franclim Carvalho for the black-and-white club’s senior team.

Even during the black-and-white club’s goalkeeping crisis, he saw Neto, Léo Linck and Warleson get opportunities. More recently, Botafogo signed Gabriel Batista and Arlesson, further reducing his space and sending the Ecuadorian back to the junior team.

The lack of opportunities weighed heavily in the assessment of his future. Botafogo sees returning the goalkeeper as an alternative both to negotiate the outstanding financial issue and to reduce the wage bill of the club’s football department.

So far, Independiente del Valle has not yet responded on whether it will accept taking the Ecuadorian player back as part of the solution. Talks between the clubs should determine the next steps.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.