One of the objectives of the new Executive Committee and coach Rafael Dudamel for this year is to preserve the backbone that won the tenth star, in view of the participation of the current Colombian champion in the Copa Libertadores, the League and the BetPlay Cup.
The process has been slow as a result of the end of the year holidays, but so far it is progressing without problems, after Teófilo Gutiérrez, Uruguayans Hernán Lessse and Guillermo De Amores, and recently Ángelo Rodríguez accepted the club’s conditions and arranged their permanence to this season.
The Verdiblancos return to the group stage and the objective is to advance to definitive instances, aware that the economic resources of Conmebol are improving as each stage is overcome.
However, there are others like Jhojan Valencia and Andrés Colorado who still do not ensure their permanence. Valencia would have a proposal from the MLS, while in the case of Colorado it is Cortuluá, owner of its sports rights, which intends to locate it abroad, although if that option is discarded, everything indicates that it will remain in Cali to participate in the Libertadores .
There is no doubt that having qualified for the continental competition was an aspect that led the managers to think about making an effort to keep the champion squad, but they are also analyzing the achievement of another reinforcement in the middle of the field.
The name that emerged several days ago is that of the Chilean midfielder Sebastián Leyton, 28, who through his social networks said goodbye to Deportes La Serena and the press of his country relates him to the ‘sugar’ cast.
Leyton is a front-line midfielder with good technical condition and who likes to attack, which earned him 6 goals for his club in 25 games. His beginnings were at the University of Chile and Dudamel knows him well, as he was the coach of said team until June 2021.
The name of the right-back Aldaír Gutiérrez, from Pereira, before the departure of Juan Camilo Angulo to Tolima, has also been mentioned. If the departure of Darwin Andrade is also confirmed, it is likely that Kevin Velasco will be enabled to play as a left back.
Marco Antonio Garcés
Correspondent Futbolred Cali
In Twitter: @marquitosgarces
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