“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Atlético Tucumán, and 9 appearances in 39 say he has earned the hearing.
11 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Atlético Tucumán has to find a result from somewhere.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
“I did not go to Radnik Surdulica to sit and watch. I want to come back to Atlético Tucumán and fight for my place.” 2 appearances in 9 matches say the rest.
10 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Atlético Tucumán has to find a result from somewhere.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
9 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Atlético Tucumán has to find a result from somewhere.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Atlético Tucumán, and 5 appearances in 35 say he has earned the hearing.
“Ask me in the summer. I will know before anybody else does.” He is 35 with 150 appearances behind him, and Atlético Tucumán have to plan for both answers.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Atlético Tucumán, and 1 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Atlético Tucumán, and 8 appearances in 25 say he has earned the hearing.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
“I did not go to Al Jazira to sit and watch. I want to come back to Atlético Tucumán and fight for my place.” 4 appearances in 30 matches say the rest.
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
At 28 he has made the position his own, and the man he took it from has to find something to say about it. Atlético Tucumán have a decision that made itself.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Atlético Tucumán, and 6 appearances in 21 say he has earned the hearing.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Gastón Suso and Atlético Tucumán agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I did not go to Al Jazira to sit and watch. I want to come back to Atlético Tucumán and fight for my place.” 4 appearances in 26 matches say the rest.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Leandro Díaz keeps the shirt for now, at Atlético Tucumán's convenience rather than his own.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Atlético Tucumán know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
4 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Atlético Tucumán has to find a result from somewhere.
Newell's Old Boys pay $560.0K, and the deal is done. The number reads well on a balance sheet; whether it reads well on the pitch is next season's question.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“I did not go to Columbus Crew to sit and watch. I want to come back to Atlético Tucumán and fight for my place.” 5 appearances in 17 matches say the rest.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Atlético Tucumán can pretend not to have heard.
Gimnasia La Plata pay $540.0K, and the deal is done. The number reads well on a balance sheet; whether it reads well on the pitch is next season's question.
2 kept out in the shoot-out, and a stadium that will still be describing them in twenty years. A goalkeeper only needs one of these to be remembered forever.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Atlético Tucumán can pretend not to have heard.
The name of Gabriel Compagnucci has come up in conversations Atlético Tucumán were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Nicolás Laméndola and Atlético Tucumán agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I did not go to Al Jazira to sit and watch. I want to come back to Atlético Tucumán and fight for my place.” 4 appearances in 18 matches say the rest.
A 1-0 win over Unión de Santa Fe, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Luciano Vallejo and Atlético Tucumán agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I did not go to Kashiwa Reysol to sit and watch. I want to come back to Atlético Tucumán and fight for my place.” 4 appearances in 13 matches say the rest.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Atlético Tucumán can pretend not to have heard.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Atlético Tucumán, and 2 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Atlético Tucumán know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Every debut is a small story about the future: Agustín Gálvez, 21 years old, off the academy pitches and into the first team. The parents in the stand will keep the programme.
“I did not go to Al Jazira to sit and watch. I want to come back to Atlético Tucumán and fight for my place.” 4 appearances in 14 matches say the rest.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
He is the name in every column and on every phone-in, which is a heavy thing to carry at any age. Some footballers thrive on it; others are quietly finished by it.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Atlético Tucumán, and 1 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
A 1-0 win over Defensores Unidos, a place in the next round, and the quiet arithmetic every supporter does on the walk home: how many more until a final?
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Atlético Tucumán can pretend not to have heard.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I did not go to Columbus Crew to sit and watch. I want to come back to Atlético Tucumán and fight for my place.” 1 appearances in 5 matches say the rest.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Atlético Tucumán know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
He is the name in every column and on every phone-in, which is a heavy thing to carry at any age. Some footballers thrive on it; others are quietly finished by it.
In brief
The terracesThe press have found their man in Manuel Brondo
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Atlético Tucumán, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Leandro Díaz and Atlético Tucumán agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Gastón Nazar reports back to Atlético Tucumán with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
A 1-0 win over Gimnasia La Plata, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
The shirt still fits. Jorge Blanco is back at Atlético Tucumán, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
He is the name in every column and on every phone-in, which is a heavy thing to carry at any age. Some footballers thrive on it; others are quietly finished by it.
At 34 he has made the position his own, and the man he took it from has to find something to say about it. Atlético Tucumán have a decision that made itself.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Renzo Tesuri has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Atlético Tucumán know, and have known for weeks.
In brief
The terracesThe press cannot get enough of Leandro Díaz
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Atlético Tucumán can pretend not to have heard.
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Patricio Albornoz reports back to Atlético Tucumán with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Leonel Vega and Atlético Tucumán agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“The easiest signature of my career.” German Vallejo and Atlético Tucumán agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Atlético Tucumán can pretend not to have heard.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Atlético Tucumán is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Ezequiel Godoy and Atlético Tucumán agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The name of Gastón Nazar has come up in conversations Atlético Tucumán were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Atlético Tucumán have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
An error at the back is a moment; an error in goal is a goal. Tomás Durso knows it, the crowd knew it instantly, and there was nobody behind him to make it anything else.
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Atlético Tucumán have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
A shoot-out is remembered by its ending, and this one ends with Tomás Durso: 2 kept out, and a set of supporters who will describe every one of them for the next twenty years.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Atlético Tucumán have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
Gimnasia La Plata are out and Atlético Tucumán go through, 2-1 the final word. The bracket opens up a little, and everyone allows themselves a look at it.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Atlético Tucumán can pretend not to have heard.
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
A shoot-out is remembered by its ending, and this one ends with Tomás Durso: 5 kept out, and a set of supporters who will describe every one of them for the next twenty years.
Every debut is a small story about the future: Agustín Franco, 20 years old, off the academy pitches and into the first team. The parents in the stand will keep the programme.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Asked to play a role that is not his, or taken off before the hour once too often — Renzo Tesuri has let it be known that he does not like the way Atlético Tucumán are using him. Managers hear this long before the press does.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 11 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Renzo Tesuri and Atlético Tucumán agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Atlético Tucumán, and both men came out saying it was fine.
24 months left and silence from upstairs — no offer, no talks, nothing for his people to answer. Clubs that let a calendar do their negotiating usually end up negotiating with the calendar.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Atlético Tucumán can pretend not to have heard.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Leandro Díaz and Atlético Tucumán agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.