Estudiantes de La Plata has targeted 40-year-old midfielder Enzo Pérez of Deportivo Maipú and is negotiating to secure defender Marcos Rojo from Racing Club ahead of their Copa Libertadores semifinal clash against Flamengo, according to reports in Argentine media.
Midfield Emergency Spurs Pursuit of Enzo Pérez
Estudiantes faces an urgent need in central midfield following an injury to Gabriel Neves, which opened a specific roster vacancy for the club prior to the continental semifinals. Club president Juan Sebastián Verón and manager Marcos Angeleri are evaluating a move for Enzo Pérez, who returned to Deportivo Maipú in the middle of the year to play in the Primera Nacional and chase promotion with the Mendoza club, as reported by ESPN.
Pérez, who previously spent time with Argentinos Juniors, shares a deep history with Estudiantes. He was part of the squad that won the 2009 Copa Libertadores under Verón by defeating Cruzeiro in the final. That relationship, combined with the club’s current squad shortages, has revived an option that was not under consideration earlier in the season. Pérez now faces a choice between accepting Estudiantes’ proposal or finishing the campaign with Deportivo Maipú.
Parallel Negotiations for Defender Marcos Rojo
In tandem with the midfield search, Estudiantes is working to orchestrate the return of Marcos Rojo to shore up the defensive line. The move follows an injury to Jalil Elías alongside other defensive fitness concerns, prompting Verón to target Rojo, who recently played for Racing Club before their Copa Argentina quarterfinal exit against Boca Juniors in a 3–2 defeat.
Journalist Federico Bueno of ESPN detailed the framework of the ongoing talks: “Rojo and Estudiantes caminan juntos para, en las próximas horas, presentarle a Racing un plan que pueda terminar con Rojo jugando la Copa Libertadores de América y también el campeonato local, porque con la lesión de Neves, Estudiantes puede pedir un cupo especial en el campeonato.” The dual recruitment effort relies on utilizing special roster spots opened by long-term injuries.
Semifinal Schedule and Conmebol Regulations
Estudiantes is scheduled to face Flamengo in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals on Thursday, October 15, at 21:30 local time at Estadio UNO. The return leg will take place on Thursday, October 22, at the same time at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.
Under CONMEBOL tournament rules, clubs are permitted to modify up to three players from the initial 50-man squad list submitted at the start of the competition. Estudiantes holds a deadline of Friday, October 9, to formalize any roster changes for both the defensive and midfield positions.
Contractual Hurdles and Timeline
Both Pérez and Rojo emerged from the youth ranks at Estudiantes and are tied historically to the club’s 2009 continental championship era. While Pérez must decide between his current commitment in the Primera Nacional and a return to the top flight, the 36-year-old Rojo faces separate contractual negotiations. Rojo remains under contract with Racing Club through December 31, 2026, requiring an agreement between the clubs to clear his path for the Libertadores semifinals.
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