Unión today, between sporting hope and financial “stranglehold”

In partnership with

Radio Gol

·10 April 2026

Unión today, between sporting hope and financial “stranglehold”

Unión’s current situation is moving along two opposite tracks: a team that looks mature and competitive on the field, and a board juggling to meet its financial commitments ahead of the key clash against Estudiantes.

1. The Debt: Key Meeting and Payment Plan

According to an early report from Darío Pignata on ADN GOL, a meeting took place in recent hours between the club’s leadership and the squad’s senior players. The situation is as follows:

Video OneFootball

What is owed: The month of February (already due) and outstanding balances for bonuses.
The promise: The board offered a payment plan and committed to paying a significant part of the debt before the match against Estudiantes.
Where the money would come from: The club is waiting to collect money owed by Racing and is arranging a loan to obtain immediate liquidity.

2. Luis Spahn’s Position: “Collection Problems”

Unión’s president acknowledged the delay (which he estimates at 15 days) and pointed to third parties as responsible for the lack of funds:

External difficulty: Spahn said the club is suffering because of non-payment by institutions that “seem solid and honorable” but do not settle their debts with Unión. Immediate goal: “The idea is to settle the debt with the squad today and pay the staff,” the executive said, seeking to normalize the club’s finances.

3. The Madelón Factor: Concern vs. Optimism

The coach finds himself in the middle of this tug-of-war, keeping a balance between what is happening in the dressing room and on the pitch:

Behind closed doors: It emerged that Madelón expressed concern within his inner circle over the salary situation, though without any intention of creating a bigger conflict.
The football side: After beating Riestra, Leo said he was convinced by the team’s direction: “We don’t have a big budget, but we have the human resources to make up for it.”
The objective: The manager highlights the team’s physical and tactical maturity, focusing 100% on qualification and on maintaining a “simple and clear” style of play.

4. What’s Next: Estudiantes in Sight

Despite the administrative noise, the coaching staff’s message is to go “step by step.” Madelón has already said that the strategy now is “purely about one match at a time,” and he trusts the squad depth to cover for absences and keep fighting near the top, far from the days when “it couldn’t be done” and he had to leave the club.

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