Of the European options that generated a lot of noise (and little nothing) in San Lorenzo to make do with what there is. The Barça goal seemed like a status issue at the club until a few days ago. However, the brilliant names that were considered did not arrive and the determination of the coaching staff was finally that of give confidence to the Paraguayan Orlando Gill. In addition, an old acquaintance returned and will stay to fill the substitute goalkeeper position.
There were several options that were heard in the Ciclón archer dance. There were surnames for all tastes. At first it seemed that it was going to make the market vibrate with the arrival of Dutchman Andries Noppert and later with Keylor Navas. However, it was neither one nor the other. And faced with the economic barrier, Miguel Angel Russo prefers to stay with what is known, at least for this first half of the year.
The Noppert thing was the first shock of the summer at the Boedo club. The one pointed out by Russo from the beginning had been Uruguayan Washington Aguerrewhich did not agree to continuity with Peñarol. However, the economic demands that Aguerre passed were far from what San Lorenzo can pay. Therefore, when the leadership saw that the number requested by the Netherlands’ starting goalkeeper in Qatar 2022 was accessible, they were excited.
But the door was closed by the coach, who was not seduced by the lights of the Old Continent. The language barrier did not convince Miguelo and he quickly gave him the thumbs down. Then, the Costa Rican Navas thing took hold, although the salary issue was the big problem there.
In the Ciclón they were only able to take charge of half of the contract of the former Real Madrid, three-time Champions League champion. Impossible without external contributions. Newell’s investors offered Navas a better number and Boedo’s chance was extinguished, despite the expectation that this possibility had generated in president Marcelo Moretti.
In the middle, another European goalkeeper had also been offered who did not run directly: the Frenchman Benjamin Lecomtewho does speak Spanish, but who was not seriously considered by Russo either.
Facundo Altamirano’s injury (fracture of the ulna of his left arm) in the first summer friendly, against Nacional, set off the alarm even more strongly in the blue and red entity. The need to cover the arch was imperative. And there was Orlando Gill, this 24-year-old Paraguayan with almost no experience in the top category. that he had arrived in 2024 and that he had added minutes in the runner-up Reserve.
Gill debuted as a starter in the San Lorenzo first team on the last date, against Tigre (it was a 1-0 loss). He entered for Altamirano in the complement against Nacional, and saved against Peñarol and against Independiente del Valle. In this last friendly, he saved a penalty and Ciclón won the series to finish undefeated and without conceding goals during his stay in Uruguay.
After this, Russo confirmed that he will give him continuity in goal and the leadership made effective the purchase of half of his pass for 500 thousand dollars. And as a substitute will be José Devecchi, who returned from his loan from Banfield where he added very little filming (he saved a match for the Argentine Cup in August of last year).