The deal with Jaguares is done in every sense but the one that puts him on the pitch. Nothing goes wrong at this stage, except on the occasions when it does.
Not a run of form — an actual step up, held for months. At 22 he is doing things at this level he could not do at the start of the season, and the coaching staff will tell you exactly which of them.
Squad21 Dec 2026
Juan Diaz 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.
Juan Camilo Largacha 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.
Words at Valledupar training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Juan Diaz 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.
Valledupar have made the call to Jaguares. No fee, a share of the wages, and a spare shirt in the position where the squad has been thinnest all season.
Words at Valledupar training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Juan Diaz 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.
Jorge Palacios 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.
Squad23 Nov 2026
Words at Valledupar training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Juan Diaz 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.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Valledupar, and both men came out saying it was fine.
In brief
SquadPablo Medina is not doing himself any favours
Jorge Palacios and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad9 Nov 2026
Juan Diaz 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.
5 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.
In brief
The dugoutHector Garcia asks for a word with the manager
SquadQuestions about Juan Diaz on the training pitch
Words at Valledupar training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Wilmar Ramirez 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.
Jorge Palacios 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.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Words at Valledupar training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Juan Diaz 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.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Valledupar this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Duvan Falcao and Valledupar agree another 2 years.
Squad3 Aug 2026
Juan Diaz 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.
In brief
The dugoutHector Garcia knocks on the manager’s door