Nacho Malcorra and Rosario Central: the split no one dares to explain | OneFootball

Amid rumors, speculations, and vague explanations, the idol from Rosario Central swapped Arroyito for Avellaneda. Both parties are praising each other indirectly, but underlying it all is a conflict that no one wants to openly discuss.

Yesterday seemed like the perfect day for at least one of the parties to break the silence and explain what happened between Central and Malcorra. Nacho appeared on TyC Sports from Independiente's training camp, dressed in red with the number 18 on his training gear, and the stage was set to learn details of the breakup, something Central fans have wanted to know since the surprising farewell of one of the most influential players under Gonzalo Belloso's management. But that wasn't the case. There seemed to be a non-aggression pact, and Nacho merely offered a lukewarm "we couldn't reach an economic agreement" after showering the club and its leaders with praise. "These are decisions," said the increasingly puzzled Miguel Ángel Russo.

It's already been noted here that managing passions in football is a challenge few navigate successfully. It seemed Central would succeed with three iconic renewals, but they faltered on the most impactful one. They lost Malcorra, one of the pillars of the 2023 title and an eternal hero of the classics.

Balancing passion with economics isn't easy, but the problem here is broader. There was only a minimal, brief explanation of what happened. And it only came yesterday from the player, who spoke as if nothing had happened. Later, he was on ESPN but said even less, aside from praising Angelito Di María as a player and person.

As days pass, the conflict becomes more intriguing. And after the "almost nothing" from the player yesterday, even more so.

Seeing him suddenly in Independiente's jersey is a blow for most Central fans who see Nacho as one of their idols. Almost a dispossession for them.

Would it be prudent for Central to explain the reasons for the breakup? Yes. Do they have institutional obligations to do so? Probably not.

Could the club have handled the departure differently, more in line with the player's trajectory at Central? Absolutely yes.

Malcorra built a very strong history at the club that deserved different treatment. It was three years of intense involvement that suddenly vanished, disappeared in an instant.

The closest to an explanation, not necessarily accurate, came from the player's wife: "If you're not a priority, it's best to step aside and be grateful for everything you've experienced," she wrote. There's an encrypted response that goes far beyond Nacho's farewell, which appeared on Instagram immediately after Almirón's presentation (another message?).

Or perhaps the truth was spoken by Sergio Levinton, on Wednesday night on Zapping Sport, on Radio 2. "If Almirón wanted him, he had to call him. Costas wanted him at Racing and called him, then the management didn't want him because of his age. Gustavo (Quinteros) did the same at Independiente," he noted. Although his statement may be biased by interests, making it somewhat relative. In fact, Malcorra denied yesterday having personal issues with Almirón, but...

Above all, no one gave any explanation, and thus speculations grow exponentially.

Can the 2025 Independiente offer him a better contract than Central could negotiate? No.

Was the contract length an issue? It seems not; he signed for a year with Avellaneda, as Central offered, though he has an option for one more. And he also denied yesterday that it was an obstacle for his continuity at Central.

Was he not a priority for Almirón? Perhaps. Malcorra's farewell almost coincided with Almirón's presentation and the pursuit of Chilean Pizarro, finally completed, almost at the same moment, suggesting a story of disagreements between the coach and the player that might have started in 2022 when the now Central coach led Lanús and decided to part ways with him.

That seems to be the most plausible explanation, despite Nacho saying the opposite. Sometimes not everything is said to avoid friction, but in defense of common sense, it must be noted that the Malcorra from Lanús was nothing like the one at Central. His evolution was rapid. Any speculation is allowed.

Thank you, Santi! Thank you, Pipa! Thank you, Nacho! Was Malcorra's time at Central the same as López's and Elordi's? Do we really have to believe nothing happened?

In this farewell, Central did not rise to the occasion. Or perhaps Malcorra angered them so much with his demands that they decided to part ways with him like any other player.

The saga ended in the least expected way and soon it will stop being talked and written about. In fact, Nacho is already wearing Independiente's jersey.

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