Prodigal son returns? Chilean side eyes Tapia loan for Libertadores | OneFootball

Having qualified for the Copa Libertadores round of 16 as the big surprise of the so-called ‘group of death’ — topping a group with Cruzeiro and Boca Juniors — Universidad Católica decided to look to a familiar face in the market to strengthen its squad: Gonzalo Tápia.

The versatile 24-year-old São Paulo winger came through the youth ranks at the Santiago club, which he left at the start of 2025 to join River Plate for 800,000 euros (around R$ 4.8 million).

And, as learned by AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR, the Chilean club has been in contact with the representatives of its famous academy product, interested in bringing him back.

The only detail revealed to the report was that the interest would be in a loan move for the second half of the year, specifically with the knockout stage of South America’s top club competition in mind. Católica will face Argentina’s Estudiantes in the round of 16.

Tapia joined São Paulo last year at the recommendation of coach Hernán Crespo. Initially on loan, he eventually signed a permanent deal with Tricolor through December 2029.

Questioned by a significant portion of the fanbase, the forward had the status of a key squad member under the Argentine coach, but has lost considerable ground since his departure.

He is one of the players with the most appearances this season, with 27 matches, although 16 of them came off the bench. He has scored three goals this year.

With São Paulo signing Victor Sá and putting faith in youth players, the trend is for Tapia to lose even more space in the squad.

Tricolor’s hope is that the player, a nailed-on starter for the Chilean national team (which, it is always worth remembering, somehow managed the feat of failing to qualify for the World Cup alongside Bolivia and Venezuela), will attract some kind of offer from Europe. His representatives have been leaking interest from small English clubs, but nothing concrete has ever reached Morumbi.

São Paulo’s response to AMT is the same this time: so far, nothing concrete has arrived from Chile for Tapia. But the indication is that the matter could indeed be discussed if it does.

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