Thursday 22 January 2009

Deepest Darkest Peru

The Estate Agents are 'suffering', the Bankers are 'suffering'. If today's reports from Peru are to be believed the advisors, agents and removal firms acting for Ariel Ortega could be in for a windfall. I covered Burrito's loan move to Mendoza last August and given the turbulent times at his beloved River in the Apertura and the departure of his nemesis Simeone I expected to see him back in Buenos Aires. But his next move could well be a little further away - to Peru's second most sucessful club Alianza Lima.

A large part of the reasoning for the approach seems to be a case of Alianza trying to get one over on their eternal city rivals Universitario, who've recently recruited homegrown hero Nolberto Solano. Signing Ortega would also divert some of the negative publicity surrounding Alianza's poor Apertura campaign. Add to that the inevitable rise in revenue and the move for a 'crack' with personal issues makes sense.

The player is apparently keen on the move. Negotiations however could be complex with not only River Plate but also his current loan club Independiente Rivadavia involved, where he's due to be until June.

Granted, Ortega is not the player he was but surely his talents deserve to grace the top division albeit the Peruvian one.

Hasta luego!