Kevin López joins San Martín: controversy, failed moves and a derby past | OneFootball

San Martín continues to make strong moves in the transfer market and has secured the arrival of a name that will make waves: Kevin López. The 24-year-old midfielder, whose transfer belongs to Independiente, has already signed his contract and will join on loan for the 2026 season of the Primera Nacional, aiming to bring dynamism and depth to the "Santo's" lineup.

A market marked by unexpected twists

López's arrival in Tucumán comes after one of the most eventful "sagas" of the summer. The midfielder had everything agreed with Colón, where he even trained and shared routines with the team. However, a call from Instituto de Córdoba halted the signing.

The deal with the "Gloria" fell through due to an institutional decision: the Córdoba management decided to withdraw to prioritize the good relationship between the clubs. The president of Instituto informed José Alonso that he was not aware that the agreement with the "Sabalero" was about to be formalized, and faced with the ethical conflict, he withdrew from the signing.

Between the closing of the transfer window and the search for a destination

After being ruled out by Instituto and with the Primera División transfer window already closed, López found himself in a critical situation. With no chances in the top category, the player tried to reopen talks to return to Colón and also held discussions with Quilmes, his former club. However, none of these options materialized, leaving his future in the air until San Martín appeared.

An arrival with the spice of the classic

Kevin López's arrival at the "Santo" is not without controversy. His incorporation is causing a stir in the province due to his immediate past: the midfielder comes from wearing the Atlético Tucumán jersey last season.

Switching sides in Tucumán football always poses an extra challenge in terms of fan acceptance. Now, López will have the mission to win over the crowd at La Ciudadela with his performance on the field, being a key player in the team that seeks to take center stage from the official debut.

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