🇦🇷 Gabriel Rojas was a long-time Cruzeiro target, see details | OneFootball

Left-back Gabriel Rojas is Cruzeiro’s first signing for the mid-year transfer window.

At 28, the Argentine arrives carrying the weight of being a long-standing target for the club’s board, with his sights set on the 2030 World Cup.

The deal with Racing is worth around R$ 30 million, to be paid in installments.

According to ge, Rojas’ signing has the influence of Joaquim Pinto, Cruzeiro’s current director, and the interest goes back a long way!

In 2018, when he was working as a scout for Benfica, Pinto had already recommended the full-back — who was 21 at the time and played for San Lorenzo — to Portuguese football, but negotiations did not move forward.

Career and Argentina National Team

Success at Racing: After spells with Peñarol and Querétaro, Rojas found his footing at Racing starting in 2023. He became an undisputed starter under Gustavo Costas and won the 2024 Copa Sudamericana (beating Cruzeiro themselves in the final) and the 2025 Recopa. In total, he made 141 appearances, scored 5 goals, and provided 22 assists.

On Scaloni’s radar: His strong performances earned him a place in the Argentina national team. He made his debut in March 2026 against Mauritania and was even included in the preliminary list of 55 names for the 2026 World Cup.

2030 project: Playing for Cruzeiro was seen by Rojas and his staff as a strategic decision. The move to the Brazilian league — considered more competitive — is a planned step to keep him on coach Lionel Scaloni’s radar ahead of the next World Cup cycle.

The Battle with Kaiki

Initially, Rojas will compete for a spot with Kaiki (who, interestingly, was also on Brazil’s preliminary list of 55 names for the World Cup). The youngster is under contract until the end of 2027, and Cruzeiro is in no rush to sell him. Recently, the club turned down an offer from Betis, considering it below their asking price of 15 million euros (around R$ 90 million).

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

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