Cali America is going through a crucial moment in its recent history, preparing for a significant restructuring ahead of the second half of 2024. After a disappointing first half of the year, in which the team failed to qualify among the top eight in the Betplay League and was eliminated early from the Copa Sudamericana, the club’s leadership has decided to take drastic measures to reverse the situation.
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The first big change has been the return of the coach Jorge ‘Polilla’ Da Silva, who returns to the América bench after the departure of Venezuelan César Farías. Da Silva, known for his ability to restructure squads and revitalize teams, has the task of returning América to privileged positions in Colombian football. The fans have high expectations with this new stage, hoping that the change of coach will bring with it a sporting renaissance and that the team will hire top-level players.
Between rumors and speculation, many scarlet fans were excited about the possible arrival of Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, especially because their great rivals Nacional and Millonarios hired David Ospina and Radamel Falcao García, respectively.
However, this Monday, June 24, it was learned that America is very close to signing a World Cup player with Colombia who comes from Europe, but It is not about Juan Guillermo Cuadrado.
Who is the player?
César Luis Merlo, journalist specialized in signings of Latin soccer players, exclusively revealed that Eder Álvarez Balanta He has very advanced negotiations to be a reinforcement for América de Cali. “The club is working on the final details so that the 31-year-old defender signs for two years after finishing his contract in Bruges,” commented the journalist.
Eder Álvarez Balanta, born on February 28, 1993 in Bogotá, is a central defender with an outstanding career both at the club and national team level. He began his professional career in River Plate, where he quickly stood out for his defensive solidity and his ability to play from the back. His good performance in Argentina earned him a place in the Colombian national team.
On May 13, 2014, Balanta was included by coach José Pékerman on the preliminary list of 30 players for the 2014 Soccer World Cup. Finally, he was selected in the final roster of 23 players on June 2 of that year. His participation in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, although limited, was an important milestone in his career.
On May 11, 2015, Balanta was selected again by Pékerman in the 30 pre-called to compete in the 2015 Copa América. Subsequently, on September 29, 2021, he was called up for the last time for a triple knockout date against Uruguay, Brazil and Ecuador .
Although he has not been recently called up for the national team, his perseverance in the Bruges from Belgium, where he has played several editions of the Champions League, demonstrates his quality and the value he can bring to Colombian football.
The possible arrival of Eder Álvarez Balanta to América de Cali represents a high-caliber signing for the club. His experience in European competitions and his international career with the Colombian team make him a luxury reinforcement for the scarlet defense. At 31 years old, Balanta is in a mature moment in his career, which allows him to provide leadership and strength to a team that needs to regain its prestige and competitiveness.
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América de Cali fans are eagerly awaiting confirmation of this signing, which could mark the beginning of a new era under the direction of Jorge ‘Moth’ Da Silva. With Balanta in defensethe team would gain security and quality, two fundamental aspects to face the challenges of the Betplay League and international competitions.
