Rafael Profini, set for the long-awaited chance at Unión | OneFootball

The start of a new season usually reshuffles priorities and opens doors that once seemed closed. At Unión, one of the names coming back into the spotlight is Rafael Profini, who now faces a key opportunity to firmly establish himself in the midfield of Leonardo Madelón’s team.

The central midfielder experienced a 2025 full of sharp contrasts. In the first part of the year, he was a regular fixture under coach Cristian González, racking up matches, minutes, and confidence. However, the return of Leonardo Madelón changed the landscape: the coach chose Mauricio Martínez and Mauro Pittón, two players he trusts, and Profini was relegated to a clearly secondary role.

From prominence to retreat at Unión The numbers clearly reflect this irregular journey. In the 2025 Torneo Apertura, Profini played in 10 matches, recorded one assist, and accumulated 765 minutes—figures that speak to continuity and the coaching staff’s support. To that strong performance, he added five appearances in the Copa Sudamericana (402 minutes) and his presence in the Copa Argentina, where he started and played the full 90 minutes, consolidating a positive image in a role that, at first, didn’t seem to be in the main plans.

The scenario changed drastically in the Torneo Clausura. There, he took part in just seven matches, but only totaled 103 minutes on the field, always coming off the bench and without any chance of starting. This decision was surprising given the level he had shown for much of the year. The final tally for the season was 23 official matches and 1,360 minutes, with one assist, distributed very unevenly.

The context that puts him back in the running Today, the outlook is different. The departure of Mauricio Martínez, the inability to finalize the signing of Uruguayan Rodrigo Saravia, and a transfer market that remains open—with few alternatives for that position—give Profini a real opportunity. Even though negotiations for Caramelo Martínez might be reactivated, the former Talleres player now appears as the main option to partner with Mauro Pittón in the double pivot.

That signal has already had its first indication: Profini started in the 2-1 victory over Alianza Lima, in Unión’s debut in the Serie Río de la Plata. After the match, television images showed a gesture that did not go unnoticed: Leonardo Madelón personally congratulating him, a scene that fueled expectations about his new role.

The Apertura, a decisive test All signs point to Rafael Profini starting again in the opening match of the Torneo Apertura, this Thursday, January 22 at 8:00 p.m., when Unión hosts Platense at the 15 de Abril stadium. This will likely be his big test: with few natural alternatives for the position and the transfer window still open, the midfielder has the chance to claim the spot and definitively change his recent story.

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