Player Valentín Gómez has been informed that he must return to Argentina to be available for the first team coaching staff as outlined in his current contract. Vélez Sarsfield never authorized his trip to Italy, the medical examination at another center, or his training at another club, despite having tolerated it to facilitate his transfer, which was specifically requested by the player. The club expects Gómez to return next Monday, March 3, and join the first team, demonstrating his commitment to the institution, where he is a reference, a product of the club's youth academy, and co-captain of the champion team.
During the negotiations for Gómez's transfer to Palermo in Italy, a contract was agreed for a sum of EUR 10,000,000 gross, with payments in installments until 2026. However, after several extensions without receiving payment, the club decided to terminate the operation when the player expressed his intention to register in Italy as a free agent, thus breaching the agreements made.
Due to the lack of payment from American businessman Foster Gillett, with whom the purchase was agreed, Vélez decided to abandon the operation with Udinese in Italy, and the player must reintegrate into the team on March 3. The club stated that, despite the situation, Gómez is a key element to help the team get out of the difficult situation they are in, being last in Zone B of the Apertura Tournament without adding points in seven matches and without having scored goals.
Vélez issued an official statement detailing the facts and clarifying that it never signed any document with other clubs nor accepted agreements from investors or private funds. Negotiations with Palermo were frustrated, and the attempt to transfer to Cruzeiro in Brazil also did not materialize. The Argentine club accepted an offer from Cruzeiro for USD 8,500,000, which was withdrawn by the Brazilian club, leading Gómez to express his desire not to continue at Vélez and seek a new transfer opportunity.
In January 2025, discussions were held with Cruzeiro in Brazil, although the operation was not finalized by the established date, which led to extensions of the deadline at the player's and his environment's request. Finally, the Argentine club terminated the operation with Udinese and expects the prompt reintegration of Valentín Gómez into the team to face the upcoming sporting challenges.
