Andino's presence on the historic podium alongside Lamela and Dybala reinforces an idea that spans different eras: the rise of Argentine football, today in the Primera Nacional, continues to be capable of generating multi-million transfers and international-level players, even far from the Primera División. Thus, the three most expensive transfers made from the second tier of Argentine football are united by a distinctive feature and a certainty that remains valid: talent knows no divisions, and this league continues to write significant chapters in the history of the transfer market. Just like River Plate and Godoy Cruz, the Córdoba club was competing in the second division and managed to finalize an operation that not only set an institutional record but, over time, became one of the most emblematic sales in Argentine football, considering the forward's subsequent career. Santino Andino's transfer confirms that the Primera Nacional continues to be a valid and competitive showcase for the international market. Buenos Aires, January 28 (NA) -- In 2026, Santino Andino was transferred from Godoy Cruz to Celtic of Scotland for a figure close to 10 million euros, in an operation that was finalized while the Mendoza club was relegated to the Primera Nacional. A key fact that further enhances the magnitude of the transfer and places it among the most expensive sales in the history of the second division. Andino's departure represents a milestone for Godoy Cruz, which managed to close a high-impact economic negotiation with a top-level European club despite not competing in the top division. For the Mendoza institution, the transfer means a decisive income and a clear signal of the value of its youth work, even in demanding sporting contexts. Andino's move adds to a historic list that has precedents of enormous weight and a common denominator: all these transfers were made with the involved clubs playing in the second division of Argentine football. Celtic, a regular protagonist of Scottish football and international tournaments, bet on the young Argentine after detailed follow-up, convinced of his projection and margin for growth. Far from limiting the prospects of players, this division continues to be observed by European clubs that prioritize talent, projection, and potential over the immediate context. For Godoy Cruz, this transfer not only implies an economic leap but also strong support for its management and development model. In 2011, Erik Lamela starred in the highest transfer from the second division when River Plate sold him to Roma of Italy for 17 million euros, at a particularly sensitive moment for the Núñez club, which was going through one of the most difficult stages in its sporting history. A year later, in 2012, Paulo Dybala left Instituto de Córdoba to join Palermo of Italy for 11,900,000 euros.
