Central started without new faces, two who left and six more kids

Central began work for the second half of 2024 where it will have to face three competitions. Their first challenge will be the play-offs of the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana where they will face Inter de Coudet on July 16 at the Gigante.

The match for the round of 16 phase of the Argentine Cup against Barracas Central and the remainder of the Professional League are also pending.

There were no additions these days. On the club’s networks they reported the end of the contract of two footballers who were champions in the 2023 League Cup and who ended their relationship: Dannovi Quiñoñes from Tumaque, who returns to Once Caldas after playing 7 games (none as a starter); and Francis Mac Allister, who returns to Talleres after playing 38 games (27 from the opening minute) with a goal scored.

For this start of the preseason, the Auriazul coach, Miguel Ángel Russo, will have 40 players under his command.

With the exception that Damián Martínez, Mallo, Bravo and O’Connor will begin the preseason in a different way, as they recover from different physical problems.

The new youth

Luca Raffin (central marker, 18 years old): he already went to the 1st bench on 09/19/2023 against Independiente (L) 1-1. He has 27 matches in the AFA youth teams between the 8th and 4th divisions, three in the 2024 U-20 Copa Libertadores, and has already accumulated 34 in reserve despite his young age.

Luca Raffin (central marker, 18 years old): he already went to the first bench on 09/19/2023 against Independiente (L) 1-1. He has 27 games in AFA youth teams between the 8th and 4th divisions, three in the 2024 U-20 Copa Libertadores, and has 34 in reserve. He scored 3 goals: to Huracán (L) 2-1 in 7th in 2022; a Estudiantes LP (V) 2-2 in reserve in 2023; and a few days ago to Unión (L) 4-1 in 4th.

Samuel Beltrán (central midfielder, 20 years old): more established midfielder who has very good technique and makes very few mistakes when passing the ball. He only joined the club in 2022, about to turn 18, from Central Córdoba in Santiago del Estero where in 2021 in the 6th division he scored a goal against Central when the scoundrels won 3 to 1 with goals from Facundo Buonanotte. Fabricio Oviedo and Luciano Martín Ferreira, who is not Pupi. He previously played for Agua y Energía of Santiago del Estero. He has 45 matches between 5th and 4th, 4 in the Libertadores sub-20 2024 and 21 in reserve. He scored 7 goals, a good number considering his position.

Tomás Salteño (mixed midfielder, 18 years old): He ended up at Central at the beginning of 2020 after playing for Belgrano de Oliveros, River, Puerto General San Martín and Santa Catalina in the Sanlorencina League. He can fulfill any role in the middle of the field. Between 5th, 4th, Libertadores U-20 and reserve he has 60 games (45 starts) with a considerable amount of goals since he scored 16.

Luis Santiago Segovia (driver, 17 years old): There are many hopes placed in this player due to his ability. It was not in vain that they took him to the Libertadores U-20 team when he was so young. Since he debuted in the AFA youth team, he has played 88 games in Central (79 as a starter) with 39 goals. This year they are already giving him minutes in reserve where he played 5 games, two starting.

Thiago Ponce (forward, 19 years old): the native of Pergamino is synonymous with goals. He doesn’t participate much in the game, but when he has one he sends it to the back of the net. The statistics of him in reserve in 2024 paint him in full. He scored 7 goals (one against Newell’s in Coloso) in the 600 minutes he had on the field. He played 13 games (8 off the bench). He arrived at Central in 2015 from Leandro Alem de Pergamino. In 2021 he went on loan to Gimnasia y Esgrima de Pergamino and returned in 2022 where in the lower divisions between 6th, 5th, 4th and the Libertadores U-20 he scored 30 goals in 53 matches.

Gaspar Duarte (forward, 21 years old): today Central does not have a player with these characteristics. His natural position is extreme on the right like the old wines. Challenger and winner in one-on-one duels. Furthermore, when they put him at 8 he more than fulfilled his duties by playing the entire wing on the right. Even in reserve against San Lorenzo he was the center forward and scored two goals. He is from Formosa, from Clorinda, and arrived in 2020 from 9 de Julio from that city. He had to fight it in the Rosarina’s first team and little by little they are giving him opportunities in reserve where in 2024 he scored 4 goals in the 662 ‘that he played.