José Alonso on Colón's transfer market: «Sometimes money isn't enough» | OneFootball

José Alonso revealed details about Colón’s latest transfer window and explained that many of the deals the club tried to complete did not depend exclusively on financial issues, in an interview with Dame Gol on Telefe Santa Fe.

The president said the board had previously made progress on three players it considered important: Marcelo Eggel, Jonathan Herrera, and Bruno Nasta.

“We had them on our radar. Three players we had practically agreed on before the semester ended,” Alonso said.

However, the deals fell through for different reasons. Eggel ultimately decided to continue his career in Chile; in Herrera’s case, various obstacles arose that prevented his arrival; while Nasta ended up staying at San Miguel.

“We were left with three players I find interesting, two number nines and a number ten, and we were left hanging,” he explained.

Given that situation, Colón had to look for alternatives, and that is when Franco García appeared, one of the players who ultimately arrived in Santa Fe.

Alonso also mentioned Leandro Garate, whom he considered a player with good technical qualities, although he acknowledged that he needs time to fully show his potential.

“It’s not that easy,” José Alonso’s conclusion at Colón

One of the ideas Alonso repeated most during the interview was that the Primera Nacional transfer market has particular characteristics.

According to his analysis, clubs that have spent several years in the division usually have consolidated structures and make few signings. At the same time, the most outstanding players mainly aim to make the jump to the First Division, while top-flight clubs are also usually reluctant to let go of players who could have a market.

That is why the president considered January to be the main time to build a squad.

“For me, the transfer market in the Nacional is only in January. In the middle of the year, everyone lets go of what they don’t want,” he explained.

In that context, Alonso defended the work done by the board and sporting director Diego Colotto, whom he praised for his scouting work.

He also said that Colón tried to sign a Defensa y Justicia player, with whom he spoke repeatedly, in addition to contacting the club’s president, the agent, and even the player’s father. “It’s not that we fell asleep. It’s not easy. Sometimes the player won’t come even for money,” he stressed.

Colón’s bet on youth players

Alonso also spoke about the work being done in the youth divisions and acknowledged that Colón is going through a transitional stage.

He explained that several of the best players produced by the youth academy were transferred or loaned out, and that other older players were occupying spaces that the club is now trying to free up for younger ones.

For that reason, many youth players were sent out on loan so they could get playing time and avoid stalling their development.

The board wants between four and six youth academy players to gradually integrate into the professional squad, regardless of the division in which Colón plays.

Alonso mentioned the work of youth development coordinator Alejandro Russo and said there is constant communication with Iván Delfino and the coaching staff to identify the young players who could get an opportunity.

He also highlighted the signing of young players from other clubs, such as Rosario Central, with the aim of strengthening a development structure that, in his view, needs more time to mature. “We’re in that transition,” he summed up.

For Alonso, rebuilding the youth divisions is part of a medium-term project and represents one of the tools Colón needs to

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