“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Llaneros can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Llaneros they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad1 May 2028
At 19, Kevin Angulo is already the best thing here
An average of 7.02 in a first team he is several years too young for. Llaneros have something, and by now the whole division has noticed.
“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 Llaneros, and 3 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Valledupar defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
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.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
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.” Llaneros have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Llaneros they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
An error at the back is a moment; an error in goal is a goal. Juan Camilo Loaiza knows it, the crowd knew it instantly, and there was nobody behind him to make it anything else.
Erdem Ucar is 18, and Llaneros have signed him for the player he will be rather than the one he is. The first team can wait; the point of a deal like this is the years it buys.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Llaneros have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
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.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Llaneros they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Llaneros can pretend not to have heard.
Gustav Elmer is 19, and Llaneros have signed him for the player he will be rather than the one he is. The first team can wait; the point of a deal like this is the years it buys.
Karim Taremi is 18, and Llaneros have signed him for the player he will be rather than the one he is. The first team can wait; the point of a deal like this is the years it buys.
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.
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.
The board have signed the man in the dugout to a longer contract, which says more than any statement of support. Stability is easy to promise and costly to keep.
The shirt still fits. Victor Garcia is back at Llaneros, 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 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.
Every debut is a small story about the future: Víctor Vidal, 20 years old, off the academy pitches and into the first team. The parents in the stand will keep the programme.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Jhojan Escobar has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
The name of Jaider Pérez has come up in conversations Llaneros were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
The name of Miguel Ortega has come up in conversations Llaneros were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
What was a back-page story is now a matter for the terraces, and the terraces do not do nuance. Llaneros would like it dealt with before it becomes the only question anybody asks.
A new face in his position, and Juan José Ramírez suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Llaneros have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Howell Mena has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Luis Marimón has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“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 Llaneros, and 4 appearances in 45 say he has earned the hearing.
“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.
Loan watch1 Nov 2027
Jaider Pérez is tired of being somebody else's player
“Another season, another badge, another dressing room to win over. I would like one pre-season at Llaneros where somebody actually looks at me.” He belongs to Deportivo Pereira until the spell ends; the argument is with the club that owns him.
The message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Jhojan Escobar plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Howell Mena has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Llaneros 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 Llaneros, and 0 appearances in 13 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 Llaneros, 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 Llaneros, and 4 appearances in 37 say he has earned the hearing.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Edwin Laszo has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Llaneros 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 Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Howell Mena has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“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 Llaneros, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
“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 Llaneros, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
A new face in his position, and Juan José Ramírez suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Llaneros have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The best deals are the ones the accountants never notice. Frederick Samuel Ndongue arrives at Llaneros with his wages the only cost and something to prove the only clause.
Llaneros spent the window trying to move Dennys Quintero on and nobody came. He trains with a squad that has already told him he is not part of it, and both sides now wait for the next one.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Llaneros have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Independiente Medellin pay $77.0K, 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.
“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 Llaneros, and 4 appearances in 29 say he has earned the hearing.
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.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Llaneros 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.” Llaneros 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 Llaneros, and 0 appearances in 1 say he has earned the hearing.
$3.0M is a serious amount of money and it does not play centre-forward. Everybody in the dressing room knows who used to be looked at when it went wrong.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Llaneros 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.
“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 terraces14 Jun 2027
Supporters make their feelings known about Jhonier Blanco
The speculation has reached the stands, and the stands have answered. Llaneros would like this settled before it becomes the only thing anybody asks about.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Llaneros know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
In brief
The terracesThe stands have heard the Léider Riascos talk too
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Valledupar defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
“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 Llaneros, and 2 appearances in 21 say he has earned the hearing.
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Fortaleza CEIF defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
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.
“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 Llaneros, and 2 appearances in 17 say he has earned the hearing.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Néider Ospina has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Llaneros know, and have known for weeks.
A 2-1 win over Real Santander, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
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 Llaneros, 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.
In brief
The terracesThe press cannot get enough of Néider Ospina
“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 Llaneros, and 0 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
“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 Llaneros, and 1 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
Wages have outrun income and the accountants have started attending meetings they used to send apologies to. Ambition comes second in a season like this.
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.
Wages have outrun income and the accountants have started attending meetings they used to send apologies to. Ambition comes second in a season like this.
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.
“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 Llaneros, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Llaneros have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
A 1-0 win over Real Santander, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Wages have outrun income and the accountants have started attending meetings they used to send apologies to. Ambition comes second in a season like this.
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.
The shirt still fits. Jesus Falcao is back at Llaneros, 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.
The shirt still fits. Juan Garcia is back at Llaneros, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
An error at the back is a moment; an error in goal is a goal. Miguel Ortega knows it, the crowd knew it instantly, and there was nobody behind him to make it anything else.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Néider Ospina has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
He came through the session, took part in everything and finished it smiling. Llaneros will not rush him, and he will spend the next fortnight trying to rush them.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Llaneros can pretend not to have heard.
The deal that would have taken Marlon Sierra to Union Magdalena has collapsed at the last stage, and he reports back to Llaneros with a summer to forget and a season still to play. Nobody is saying which side walked away.
“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 Llaneros, and 0 appearances in 1 say he has earned the hearing.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Llaneros know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Llaneros can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, 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 Llaneros 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.
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Kevin Caicedo reports back to Llaneros with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
Independiente Medellin pay $310.0K, 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.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The name of Kevin Caicedo has come up in conversations Llaneros were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Llaneros has been clear about where Brian Benítez stands, which is more than many ever get.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Luis Miranda has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
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.
The message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Léider Riascos plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Francisco Meza has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
He came through the session, took part in everything and finished it smiling. Llaneros will not rush him, and he will spend the next fortnight trying to rush them.
The message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Jhonier Blanco plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Néider Ospina has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
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 Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Luis Miranda has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
He came through the session, took part in everything and finished it smiling. Llaneros will not rush him, and he will spend the next fortnight trying to rush them.
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 borrowing is past what the bank agreed, which is the line where a debt stops being how football is financed and starts being a problem. Every phone-in in this town will quote the figure for the next five years.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Llaneros 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 Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Francisco Meza has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
The message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Alejandro Morález plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Léider Riascos has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
He came through the session, took part in everything and finished it smiling. Llaneros will not rush him, and he will spend the next fortnight trying to rush them.
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 borrowing is past what the bank agreed, which is the line where a debt stops being how football is financed and starts being a problem. Every phone-in in this town will quote the figure for the next five years.
A shoot-out is remembered by its ending, and this one ends with Miguel Ortega: 2 kept out, and a set of supporters who will describe every one of them for the next twenty years.
36 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.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Llaneros, and both men came out saying it was fine.