Marked for Facundo Centurión
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad1 Feb 2027
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 79 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
Market1 Feb 2027
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Squad1 Feb 2027
Matías Mansilla was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad1 Feb 2027
Facundo Centurión falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Boardroom1 Feb 2027
Wages eat 86% of everything Alvarado earn
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
The dugout1 Feb 2027
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Thiago D'Archivio, and the manager let it.
Looking ahead1 Feb 2027
Arsenal next, and one man in the Alvarado dressing room knows their training ground better than his own. The reception will tell him what they thought of him.
Market1 Feb 2027
The Lucas Monzón talk will not go away
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Alvarado know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Squad1 Feb 2027
Numbers do not stay secret in a dressing room and never have. He is not asking for more than he is worth; he is asking why somebody beside him is worth more, and at Alvarado that is a harder question to answer.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad18 Jan 2027
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 93 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
The dugout18 Jan 2027
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Squad18 Jan 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Alvarado this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad18 Jan 2027
Matías Mansilla falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The dugout18 Jan 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market18 Jan 2027
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Germán Cervera’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad11 Jan 2027
A fracture rules Valentín Ramírez out for 100 days
Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason Alvarado will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.
Market11 Jan 2027
Germán Sosa hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Alvarado can pretend not to have heard.
The dugout11 Jan 2027
Nahuel González: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alvarado have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Squad11 Jan 2027
A falling-out at Alvarado
Emanuel Bilbao and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout11 Jan 2027
Marco Miori gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Transfer targets11 Jan 2027
A deal that was a phone call from completion at lunchtime was dead by midnight. Alvarado will try again when the window opens; Morón may not be selling by then.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Words at Alvarado training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Facundo Centurión is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Squad11 Jan 2027
A muscle injury sidelines Agustín Zapata for 15 days
Nobody makes a documentary about a hamstring and everybody in the game fears one. Alvarado will be careful with the return date, because the second one is always worse than the first.
The dugout11 Jan 2027
Emanuel Bilbao has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Alvarado will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market4 Jan 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Alvarado, and it is not being withdrawn.
The dugout4 Jan 2027
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Alvarado may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
Transfer targets4 Jan 2027
A medical, a signature, a shirt held up in front of a sponsor’s board. Alvarado have done the hard part with Morón, and the part that remains is the part supporters actually see.
Squad4 Jan 2027
Words exchanged at Alvarado
Emanuel Bilbao and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad4 Jan 2027
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Mateo Ostachi commits to Alvarado for another 4 years.
The dugout4 Jan 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market4 Jan 2027
“We are a long way apart, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.” Neither side is close, and the calendar is not on the club's side.
Squad4 Jan 2027
Words at Alvarado training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Pablo Hofstetter is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The dugout4 Jan 2027
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market28 Dec 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad28 Dec 2026
Emanuel Bilbao was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad28 Dec 2026
A row about effort at Alvarado
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Matías Mansilla was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Boardroom28 Dec 2026
Wages eat 144% of everything Alvarado earn
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
The dugout28 Dec 2026
The manager makes an example of Germán Sosa
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout28 Dec 2026
Marco Miori knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alvarado, and both men came out saying it was fine.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad7 Dec 2026
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Alvarado this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad7 Dec 2026
A row about effort at Alvarado
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Matías Mansilla was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Market7 Dec 2026
“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Facundo Centurión has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at Alvarado.
Squad7 Dec 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Nahuel González and Alvarado agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The dugout7 Dec 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Tomás Fernández, and the manager let it.
Market7 Dec 2026
The Lucas Monzón talk will not go away
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Alvarado know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Boardroom7 Dec 2026
Open for business: Alvarado enter the window
The registration window is open and the phone has started. Between now and the deadline this club will be linked with forty players and sign three, which is the usual ratio.
Squad7 Dec 2026
“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.
Market7 Dec 2026
“We are a long way apart, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.” Neither side is close, and the calendar is not on the club's side.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad30 Nov 2026
Emanuel Bilbao was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad30 Nov 2026
A row about effort at Alvarado
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Santiago Gutiérrez was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Boardroom30 Nov 2026
Wages eat 148% of everything Alvarado earn
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
The dugout30 Nov 2026
Tigre knocks on the manager’s door
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Tigre trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
The dugout30 Nov 2026
The manager makes an example of Nahuel González
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Market30 Nov 2026
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Cristian Gorgerino signs something — a contract at Alvarado or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
From our football correspondent
Steady
The dugout23 Nov 2026
Tobías Berón: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alvarado have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Squad23 Nov 2026
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Alvarado this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad23 Nov 2026
A row about effort at Alvarado
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Santiago Gutiérrez was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout23 Nov 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Ramiro Makarte, and the manager let it.
Loan watch23 Nov 2026
11 appearances at Independiente Rivadavia and the goals have stopped going in. Alvarado lent out a goalkeeper and are watching somebody else’s season get better every week.
Market23 Nov 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Germán Cervera’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Steady
The dugout16 Nov 2026
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Squad16 Nov 2026
A falling-out at Alvarado
Emanuel Bilbao and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad16 Nov 2026
A row about effort at Alvarado
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Matías Mansilla was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout16 Nov 2026
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout16 Nov 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
The dugout16 Nov 2026
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Ariel Castellano trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad9 Nov 2026
Words exchanged at Alvarado
Emanuel Bilbao and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad9 Nov 2026
A row about effort at Alvarado
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Santiago Gutiérrez was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout9 Nov 2026
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout9 Nov 2026
Ramiro Makarte knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alvarado, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market9 Nov 2026
The Lucas Monzón talk will not go away
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Alvarado know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Squad9 Nov 2026
A wage question at Alvarado
Ramiro Makarte has done the arithmetic and does not like the answer. Nothing corrodes a squad faster, and no club has ever solved it by explaining the wage structure to a footballer.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Boardroom2 Nov 2026
The instruction came from the boardroom and the dugout did not agree with it. Somebody will go, the fee will be called good business, and the manager will spend the season rebuilding around the space.
Squad2 Nov 2026
Words exchanged at Alvarado
Matías Mansilla and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad2 Nov 2026
Words at Alvarado training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Santiago Gutiérrez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Boardroom2 Nov 2026
Wages eat 148% of everything Alvarado earn
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Tomás Fernández, and the manager let it.
Market2 Nov 2026
Alvarado have let the market know Facundo Centurión can be had. No price in the advert, but everyone in the trade knows roughly what it says.
Market2 Nov 2026
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Cristian Gorgerino signs something — a contract at Alvarado or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Market2 Nov 2026
“We are a long way apart, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.” Neither side is close, and the calendar is not on the club's side.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
The manager makes Germán Sosa a promise
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at Alvarado. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad26 Oct 2026
Words exchanged at Alvarado
Germán Cervera and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad26 Oct 2026
A row about effort at Alvarado
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Matías Mansilla was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad26 Oct 2026
Alvarado are still strangers to each other
14 new signings in one window. Every one may be an upgrade and the side can still be worse for a while, which is the part of a rebuild the verdicts never mention.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
Nahuel Speck gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Loan watch26 Oct 2026
11 appearances at Independiente Rivadavia and the goals have stopped going in. Alvarado lent out a goalkeeper and are watching somebody else’s season get better every week.
Market26 Oct 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Germán Cervera’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match26 Sep 2026
No end in sight to Alvarado's wait for a win
4 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Alvarado has to find a result from somewhere.
Squad28 Sep 2026
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Alvarado this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad28 Sep 2026
A row about effort at Alvarado
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Santiago Gutiérrez was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
Successful dribbles: 20. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Facundo Centurión, and the manager let it.
Squad28 Sep 2026
14 new faces, and Alvarado are still learning each other
A squad rebuilt inside one window pays for it in a currency nobody budgets for. The football is not worse than the sum of the players; it is worse than the sum of the players who have played together before.
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
A mark of 7.72, and nobody in the ground would argue with it. He was involved in everything that mattered and most of what did not.
Match26 Sep 2026
It needed Germán Cervera to find the net to bring anything home at all: 1‑1 against All Boys, and half the dressing room will call it a point won.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
The manager’s verdict
“I am frustrated, honestly. We did enough to win and we did not win.” José Luis Cabrera was not hiding it after 1‑1, and nobody in the Alvarado dressing room was either.
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Squad14 Sep 2026
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Alvarado this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad14 Sep 2026
Matías Mansilla falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Match12 Sep 2026
Beaten 0‑2, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
The dugout14 Sep 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Emanuel Bilbao, and the manager let it.
Market14 Sep 2026
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Diego Castillo has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
Market14 Sep 2026
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Mario Herrera has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
The dugout14 Sep 2026
“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” José Luis Cabrera after 0‑2, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.
Player ratings14 Sep 2026
Successful dribbles: 13. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Market14 Sep 2026
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Joaquín González has his answer from Alvarado; what he does with it is the next window’s story.