The Deportivo Cali Chronicle
Squad25 Jan 2027
Daniel Giraldo breaks a bone — 28 days out
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 28 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
Player ratings25 Jan 2027
A brace, and Emanuel Reynoso takes the afternoon — 8.81
There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Emanuel Reynoso provided it, and the 8.81 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.
Player ratings25 Jan 2027
No sign of nerves from Javier Mena at 21 — 7.87
The hardest thing about being 21 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Javier Mena did not need any: 7.87, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.
Squad25 Jan 2027
Tempers go at Deportivo Cali
Emanuel Reynoso 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.
Boardroom25 Jan 2027
Graduation day at Deportivo Cali
5 boys move up, and somewhere in the building the people who coached them at twelve are quietly having the best morning of their working year. Nothing about this shows up in a result and it is why the academy exists.
Squad25 Jan 2027
Gustavo Cuéllar 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.
Match23 Jan 2027
Emanuel Reynoso the difference as Deportivo Cali beat Deportivo Pereira
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Emanuel Reynoso. 2‑1 against Deportivo Pereira, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Squad25 Jan 2027
Juan Dinenno 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.
The terraces25 Jan 2027
Deportivo Cali supporters have found a favourite in Javier Mena
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 21-year-old it feels ownership of. Javier Mena has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
In brief
- Market Alejandro Herrera steps up from the Deportivo Cali academy
- Market Deportivo Cali promote Sebastian Falcao from within
- Market Cristian Giraldo steps up from the Deportivo Cali academy