José Alonso, no filter on Colón: debts, a modest market, standing firm | OneFootball

In the context of the legislative recognition of Luis Miguel “Pulga” Rodríguez, Colón president José Alonso broke his silence and offered an alarming snapshot of the club’s financial situation. Far from the spotlight of the transfer market, the chairman brought supporters’ expectations back down to earth and made it clear that the absolute priority is putting out the inherited economic fires.

The heavy inheritance and a balance sheet in the red

Alonso did not mince words in describing the situation the current board encountered when it took over the club six months ago.“Colón is very, very, very compromised from an economic standpoint. We’re managing it with a great deal of effort,” said the executive, who also revealed that upon taking office they had to face an immediate debt of “750 million pesos in unpaid wages.”

The financial squeeze is worsened by the lack of genuine short-term resources: “We received a club with no resources, no players to sell, and almost all the youth players were gone,” he explained. To this is added the fact that the previous administration had already cashed in TV revenue in advance: “We didn’t make money from television because money was advanced and now it’s being deducted from us. We’re not playing in any cups, so it’s a club with no income, no income.” Given this scenario, he admitted that the directors’ own assets are sustaining day-to-day operations: “The balance sheet still isn’t balanced... if we have to make contributions, what else can we do? There’s no other way.”

Austerity in the market: the “impossible” names ruled out

Asked about rumors linking the club with players of the caliber of Rodrigo Aliendro, Lucas Alario, Facundo Farías, or Malcorra, the Colón president was blunt and asked the membership to be realistic.“Please, don’t ask for things that are impossible. Those are salaries that exceed 150 million pesos, 120 million. There are squads in the Nacional that cost that much for just one player.”

The plan for the current transfer window will be based on discipline and on recruiting talent suited to the reality of the division, financed by departures from the current squad.“We have to be clear: we need to find that balance between the resources you have and what you put on the field.” In that regard, Alonso emphasized the strategy to follow: “We’re looking for players who fit what the team needs and whom we can afford. That’s the idea: to sell the players who won’t stay and replace them in a way that fits the budget.”

FIFA litigation and debts to be collected

One of Colón’s main sources of financial relief lies in the international courts, specifically in the claim filed over the abrupt departure of Uruguayan forward José Neris.“In the Neris matter, we are pursuing a lawsuit with an extraordinary claim regarding the player and the club because they did not respect the federative rights. He left without justification, showed up when he wanted, left when he wanted.” The chairman sounded optimistic after the latest developments in the case: “They submitted their latest response on May 29 and now it has reached FIFA. We are hopeful that it will truly be a ruling in Colón’s favor; it would bring us significant income.”

On the other hand, Alonso demanded payment of the debts other institutions still owe Sabalero, drawing a contrast in clubs’ behavior in the cases of Leonel Picco and Alan Forneris: “Platense owes us money from the player’s purchase and from the sale. Racing complied.”

Promise of transparency for the members

Finally, the chairman pledged to open the accounting books once the internal audit is finished so supporters can understand the scale of the crisis.“You will see numbers that speak for themselves. We will present a balance sheet briefly explaining what was received in each item and what was resolved.”

Despite the physical and mental wear and tear that comes with running the club, Alonso reaffirmed his institutional commitment heading into the second half of the year:

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