Newell’s Old Boys could be forced to return Walter Mazzantti at the end of the season because the club does not have the money to execute his purchase option, according to reports from La Capital.
The forward arrived at the start of the year on a loan deal carrying a purchase option from Independiente and established himself as one of the team’s best performers, helping secure a ticket to the Clausura tournament playoffs.
Mazzantti emerged as one of the clearest offensive cards for the red-and-black squad and became the second player with the most individual duels won, trailing only Matías Pellegrini of Vélez. His productivity stood out during the second tournament of the year, where he played nearly every match well, maintained a high percentage of participation in attacking plays, and secured an undisputed starting role.
Much of the individual performance is attributed to coach Frank Kudelka, who previously directed the attacker at Huracán and specifically requested him after taking charge following the departure of the coaching duo Favio Orsi and Sergio Gómez. The fans value the player, and the interaction at the Coloso has remained consistently positive.
The loan deal expires at the end of the year, leaving the Parque club to decide its next move. While standard sporting logic suggests trying to retain such a player, a partisan media outlet with good information regarding Independiente reported that Rosario contacts already reached Avellaneda to communicate that Newell's lacks the funds for the permanent transfer.
Independiente holds the final say if a renewal of the loan with a purchase option is proposed. However, elections to renew the board of directors are taking place in these days at Independiente, and new authorities must assume office before official discussions advance.
With multiple players currently out on loan with purchase options, the situation surrounding Mazzantti cannot be delayed for long as the club prepares to shape its squad for 2027, even as the team focuses on its upcoming Clausura round of sixteen match against Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.
Worth a look
