Lautaro Vargas: Long spell out and chance to bring in a replacement? | OneFootball

Unión received alarming news this Tuesday, mainly because of Lautaro Vargas’ situation. The club released the medical report for defender Joaquín Mosqueira and Ignacio Malcorra, but attention centered on the right back, who apparently suffered a very serious injury.

“Lautaro Vargas: the player suffered a severe sprain in his left knee. He will be reevaluated daily, and depending on his progress, the therapeutic approach will be determined,” the institution officially reported.

At midday, Ignacio Pettinari reported that the youngster developed at Defensa y Justicia may have suffered an injury to his cruciate ligaments. This situation could be confirmed after a series of medical tests that have already been scheduled.

If this is confirmed, Vargas would be sidelined for between 6 and 9 months if he undergoes surgery and rehabilitation, although full graft maturation and final clearance for high-risk sports could take up to 12 months.

Can Unión sign another player?

The regulations allow for the possibility that a club may request a replacement when a footballer suffers an injury with an estimated recovery time of more than four months, provided a series of requirements are met and the injury occurs within the competition’s authorized period.

In addition, the request must be reviewed by the AFA Sports Medicine Department, which may summon the player, request additional tests, or wait for surgery to be performed before determining whether the injury actually requires more than four months of recovery.

If the AFA Executive Committee approves the request, Unión would have five business days to complete the paperwork and register the replacement, with the possibility of a one-time extension of another five business days, which must also be authorized by the Executive Committee.

An important detail is that the replacement does not necessarily have to play in the same position as the injured player. The only exception is that the position must be respected when it involves a goalkeeper.

Therefore, if Vargas is ultimately sidelined for an extended period, Unión would not be required to use that slot exclusively to add another defender. The club’s management could assess the market and decide which position it considers a priority to strengthen the squad.

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