By Matheus Trunk
The year 2025 was troubled for the Palm trees. The team invested R$700 million in signings and failed to earn anything. The player profile for next season should be different. Management and coaching staff want athletes with a high technical level, with international experience and better prepared. Two Argentine midfielders who play in English football are on the club’s radar: Guido Rodriguez31 years old, from West Ham, and Nicolas Dominguezde 27, do Nottingham Forest.
The duo has the same characteristics. They are markers that can be useful in combat and disarming. These are efficient number 5 shirts that function as authentic “watchdogs”, acting in front of the defense. There are two protectors. Marlon Freitas is more technical. The idea is to have a scoring midfielder, like Aníbal Moreno, who went to River Plate. The expectation is that the recently hired Marlon Freitas will play more advanced, as a “second midfielder”, teaming up with Andreas Pereira.
Formed in the youth divisions of River Plate, Guido Rodríguez started his career with the Argentine team. Afterwards, he had a long career in Mexican football, playing for two local teams: Tijuana and América. He stood out at América, where he made 103 appearances and scored twelve goals. And he won a Mexican Championship and a Mexican Cup. He went to Real Betis, in Spain, where he stayed for four seasons. There were 139 matches and six goals.
The steering wheel won a Copa del Rey for the Seville teamwon on penalties in a historic final against Valencia. In the decision, Guido wore the number 21 shirt and was coached by Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini.
World champion with Messi
Guido Rodríguez was called up numerous times to the Argentina national team. The highlight is having participated alongside Messi in the 2022 World Cup champion groupplayed in Qatar. In 2024, he signed a contract with West Ham, in England. But it has not been used by the London team. So much so that the athlete has already received proposals from Ajax, the Netherlands, and Atlético-MG. Palmeiras’ idea is to go through the business and have Rodríguez’s experience in international competitions. His contract is worth 6 million euros (R$39.2 million).
At just nineteen years old, Nicolás Domínguez became a starter for Vélez Sarsfieldone of the most traditional clubs in Argentina. The following year, he was elected by the AFA, the local Federation, as the best midfielder in the Argentine Championship. In 2019, he was traded to Bolognafrom Italy.
Contract value
He spent five seasons at the Italian club until he was transferred to Nottingham Forestfrom England. Domínguez is considered one of the main promises in South American football. But he still had few chances in the Argentina national team. To have him, Palmeiras will have to pay 16 million euros, around R$104.5 million.
