The powerful gesture of Diego Valdés to facilitate his arrival in Colo Colo
The article discusses Colo Colo's ongoing efforts to strengthen their squad, focusing on the potential signing of Diego Valdés. While much attention is given to the arrival of Vozinha, the club still needs reinforcements in other positions, particularly a creative midfielder and a winger. Valdés, who has previously played under Colo Colo's coach Fernando Ortiz during his time at América de México, is seen as a strong candidate for the defensive midfield role. The player, who is 32 years old, is motivated to join Colo Colo after a successful career in Mexico and Argentina. He is willing to sacrifice three months of salary from Vélez Sarsfield, which is facing financial instability, to move to Chile. However, Vélez has not yet responded to his request, and there are uncertainties regarding his future with the club.
Colo Colo continues its pursuit of reinforcements as the club aims to strengthen its squad ahead of the new season. While attention has largely focused on the arrival of goalkeeper Vozinha, who recently joined the team from Cape Verde, the club's technical director, Fernando Ortiz, has outlined additional needs, particularly for a creative midfielder and a winger. Among these targets, Diego Valdés stands out as a key acquisition, with Ortiz convinced that the 32-year-old Argentine can bring the qualities needed to further solidify Colo Colo’s dominance in the First Division. The team currently holds a 12-point lead over their closest rivals, Universidad Católica, and is looking to maintain that advantage through strategic signings. Valdés, who played under Ortiz during his time at América de México, has expressed a strong desire to join Colo Colo, a club he supports passionately. He is reportedly ready to make a significant sacrifice to facilitate his move. Currently playing for Vélez Sarsfield, Valdés is owed three months' salary due to the club’s financial instability. He has informed the management of Vélez Sarsfield that he is willing to forgo this payment to gain the freedom necessary to transfer to Santiago. This gesture underscores his commitment to joining Colo Colo, where he believes he can contribute effectively despite his age. The relationship between Valdés and Ortiz has remained consistent in recent days, with the coach eager to secure the player’s services. Ortiz sees Valdés as a crucial addition to his plans, especially considering that current midfielder Claudio Aquino has yet to fully convince him of his capabilities. However, the process is not without complications. Vélez Sarsfield has not yet responded to Valdés’ intentions, possibly because they are hesitant to let him go. Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto includes Valdés in his planning but it remains unclear whether he will offer the same level of playing time that Ortiz promises at Colo Colo. Additionally, Vélez Sarsfield is likely seeking some compensation for the transfer, given Valdés’ value. The Buenos Aires-based club expects communication from Colo Colo’s management, led by president Aníbal Mosa, regarding potential negotiations with Vélez’s leadership, headed by Fabián Berlanga. These discussions could determine the future of Valdés, whose decision to potentially relinquish part of his earnings reflects both personal ambition and professional dedication. Meanwhile, another major development has emerged with the signing of Vozinha, the standout performer of the World Cup in Cape Verde. At 40 years old, the goalkeeper is set to make his debut in South America after being signed by Colo Colo. His arrival has generated considerable interest globally, highlighting the club’s growing influence beyond Chile. However, a regulatory issue threatens to disrupt the anticipated marketing success associated with his signing. According to Chile’s National Football Association (ANFP), players must wear only their official last names on the back of their jerseys, which means Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias, cannot use his nickname. This rule has sparked international media coverage, with Spanish newspaper Marca reporting that the situation has prompted an extraordinary meeting among league presidents. Similarly, El Mundo in Spain noted that the change in name could jeopardize the lucrative merchandise sales expected from the signing. In the United Kingdom, The Sun highlighted the irony of the situation, stating that Vozinha would have to adopt a less familiar name on his jersey unless Colo Colo secures an exception from the league authorities. German publication Bild described the move as a potential blow to the club’s marketing strategy, noting that while Colo Colo had high hopes for the signing, the impact on jersey sales might be significantly reduced. French outlet Le Parisien raised questions about why Vozinha, the revelation of the Cape Verde World Cup, might not appear with his chosen name on his new club’s roster. It emphasized that unless special permission is granted, Vozinha will have to choose between the names Évora and Dias instead of using his well-known moniker. The situation presents a unique challenge for Colo Colo, balancing compliance with local regulations against the global appeal of having a star player known by a different name.
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