Universidad de Chile Evaluates Players Returning From Loans
Twenty-two players return from loan spells to prepare for Universidad de Chile as the club plans for its 2027 centennial season and faces upcoming squad evaluations.
The returning cohort splits into 12 players who could enter first-team consideration and 10 younger players from the youth divisions seeking space, according to details provided by TVN.
The group of 12 senior-level returnees includes goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Ignacio Sáez returns from Deportes La Serena. Defensive reinforcements include David Retamal and Antonio Díaz from Universidad de Concepción, Bastián Tapia from Deportes Antofagasta, and Yahir Salazar from Deportes La Serena, TVN reported.
Midfield options feature Renato Cordero from Unión Española, Jeison Fuentealba from Universidad de Concepción, and Flavio Moya from Deportes Limache. Gonzalo Montes returns from Montevideo City Torque. Forwards Julián Alfaro from Everton, Renato Huerta from Cobresal, and Cristóbal Muñoz from Rangers de Talca complete this division.
Entre estos casos destaca el retorno de Gonzalo Montes, quien regresa desde Montevideo City Torque tras alcanzar las semifinales de la Copa Sudamericana. Montes has a contract with the azules until December 2027.
Ten youth players will also return to gain professional experience and address the mandatory Sub-21 minutes rule in the Campeonato Nacional. Defensive options feature Alonso Villegas from San Luis de Quillota, Cristóbal Ulloa from Provincial Osorno, Zacarías Abuhadba from Deportes Antofagasta, and Mateo González from Deportes Concepción.
Midfielders Rubén Vera from Provincial Osorno and Fernando Sanguinetti from Tepatitlán FC in the Mexican second tier will report to the Centro Deportivo Azul. Forwards Salvador Negrete from Deportes Puerto Montt, Benjamín Aravena from Unión San Felipe, Franco Cáceres from Deportes Concepción, and Martín Espinoza from Cobresal round out the youth returnees.
Antes de finalizar la planificación, Universidad de Chile se enfoca en asegurar el Chile 2 para la fase de grupos de la Copa Libertadores y en competir por el título de la Copa Chile.