Marked for Daniel Valencia
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad21 Sep 2026
Jorge Palacios 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.
Squad21 Sep 2026
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Daniel Valencia is 19, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
The dugout21 Sep 2026
James Ramirez asks for a word with the manager
“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.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Match12 Aug 2026
Atletico Nacional go through and Valledupar go home, 0‑2 the scoreline that did it. The dressing room will call the league the priority now, because that is what dressing rooms say.
Squad17 Aug 2026
Jorge Palacios and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Market17 Aug 2026
The interest is real enough to have reached print. Valledupar have said nothing, which in a transfer window is its own kind of answer.
The dugout17 Aug 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Jorge Palacios, and the manager let it.
The dugout17 Aug 2026
“The supporters are entitled to be angry. So am I. We will put it right.” 0‑2, a manager saying the necessary things, and a dressing room that heard a different version of them.
Player ratings17 Aug 2026
Successful dribbles: 15. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
The dugout17 Aug 2026
The form table has caught Jorge Santos
Somebody else has been better, the manager has said so with a team sheet, and there is no argument to be had. He will get the shirt back the only way it can be got back.
Player ratings17 Aug 2026
Shots: 5, enough of them from close enough that a striker in form scores two. He is not a striker in form.
Squad17 Aug 2026
Off the academy pitches and into a senior shirt, at 19. The parents in the stand will keep the programme, and so will he.