After his career in Brazilian football, obtaining the Libertadores with River and a false step with injury at Feyenoord, Lucas Pratto returned to Vélez seven years later in search of more glory. The 33-year-old forward was presented this Saturday at the José Amalfitani stadium, escorted by Sergio Rapisarda, president of the club, and by Christian Bassedas, recently appointed new sports director. He arrived as a free player and on Friday he had signed his contract until December 2023.
“It is a unique opportunity to be in a club that I have a lot of affection for, that I love very much and that will help me in the final process of recovery to be able to fight all I want. I want to compete again for titles with an institution that in the last 30 years has always been at the top of the league “Said the player formed in the lower teams of Defensores de Cambaceres and Boca.
On May 9, in the Dutch football classic between Feyenoord and Ajax, Pratto went to dispute a ball to the ground and ended up fracturing his fibula. The injury led him to prematurely terminate the loan and return to River, owner of his pass. As it was not going to be taken into account, despite the fact that he had a contract until June 2022, he managed to agree and get freedom of action. And although the rumors positioned him in other destinations, he finally opted for Liniers.
And the club’s president, Sergio Rapisarda, thanked him: “Nothing is easy these days. A lot of work has been done because we wanted him to be here. Thank him and his people because it was finished in an excellent way, without taking steps that were not up to Velez’s budget. He had better offers that seduced him from abroad, but he wanted to return to the club ”.
The player, who wore the National Team shirt five times, has already been discharged from the doctor and will train with the squad, but he still does not know when he will add minutes in official matches. “I was discharged earlier than planned, probably because of the effort I made these months. We will speak in the week with the medical staff, the teachers, the coaching staff and Christian to plan the lap well and depending on how my body responds it will look “, explained in conference. He clarified that he does not know what number he will use, highlighted the management of Christian Bassedas, who has already spoken with the DT and is motivated by the pressure to be important.
Bassedas, confirmed less than a week ago as head of the new technical secretariat to replace Pablo Cavallero and one of the architects of the negotiation coming to fruition, also left his impression. “The most important thing here is the joy that all the Velezano people feel to know that Lucas Pratto is back. I am sure from my soccer vision that it will empower the team and improve the youngest because it is a good mirror. The team has to live up to the demand that he has always had and that Vélez must have is to fight important things ”, sentenced.
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