Juan Nardoni and Leonel Pérez to bolster Grêmio midfield | OneFootball

Grêmio have added Argentine midfielders Juan Nardoni and Leonel Pérez in the same week to strengthen their ball-winning options. According to Globo.com, both are in Porto Alegre and arrive to enhance the side’s defensive intensity.

Nardoni, 23, joins from Racing and likes to break into the box, while Pérez, 21, signed from Huracán, tends to hold his position. Both were established starters and their exits were lamented by fans.

Nardoni appears the likelier to challenge for an immediate starting place. After beating Novo Hamburgo, Luís Castro said the midfield does not necessarily need a classic number 10, leaving room for a third holding midfielder.

At Racing he was ahead of Santiago Sosa. He was strongly considered for Argentina’s senior squad but was not called up, then his level dropped in late 2025 amid minor injuries. Even so, his potential is rated and he was repeatedly linked with Europe in the last two windows.

Pérez, a Huracán academy product, debuted early in 2025 to fill a profile the team lacked and quickly became a starter. He covers centre-backs well, has strong ball recovery and a precise first pass, and has even filled in at centre-back.

Primarily a defensive midfielder, he moves well without the ball and may still need to build his physique for the role. The pair could feature after Carnival once they appear on the CBF’s BID, with an earlier debut not ruled out if paperwork is cleared.

Source: Globo.com