After hitting a stumbling block in pursuit of our top defensive transfer target David Brekalo, Orlando City SC now appear to have cast their net wider in the search for Antônio Carlos‘ replacement at centre back.
In a translated version of an article by Jorge Romero in En Cancha today, the Chilean source claims that Orlando City SC are the Major League Soccer team “that has made enquiries about” Colo-Colo defender Alan Saldivia “both in its representation agency and in the club.”
The article also claims that the offer from the MLS club – believed to be Orlando City SC – is a loan with a purchase option, plus a fee of $350,000.
Alan Saldivia’s release clause is around $2.3 million for 70% of his rights with Colo-Colo having no intention of losing 100% of these rights.
There’s even more fuel to this rumour too.
Thanks to our friends at Orlando City Fan TV, they tweeted something rather inconspicuous on Monday.
Eagle-eyed fans have recently spotted that Alan Saldivia is currently following both Orlando City SC and Nicolás Lodeiro on Instagram.
New Target?? 🎯
Fans have noticed right-footed centerback, Alan Saldivia, is currently following Orlando City on Instagram.
Chilean club, Colo-Colo, recently received an offer from an unnamed MLS club of around $2 million for the 21-year-old Uruguayan. 🇺🇾#VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/yamRCg1Xa6
— Orlando City Fan TV (@OCFanTV22) January 29, 2024
With Saldivia being Uruguayan himself, the Nicolás Lodeiro follow makes sense but Orlando City SC too?
We’re watching this space to see if this small nugget of information turns into something bigger.
Earlier this winter, the same eagle-eyed fans spotted that David Brekalo is currently following Orlando City SC and Ricardo Moreira on Instagram.
There’s no smoke without fire, so we thought we’d dig a little deeper into who Alan Saldivia is.
Who is Alan Saldivia?
Alan Saldivia is a 21-year-old Uruguayan centre back who stands at 5 ft 11 in.
Right footed, he hails from Rivera, the capital city of Uruguay’s Rivera Department.
Spending his youth career with Defensor Sporting and Montevideo City Torque in his Uruguayan homeland, Saldivia’s next move showed courage.
In 2021, Alan Saldivia left Uruguay to join the youth academy of Chilean Primera División side Colo-Colo – a bold move that has since proved to be a great decision.
Thirty-three-time winners of the Chilean Primera División, Colo-Colo are the biggest club in Chile.
Seeing great potential in the youngster, February 2023 saw Saldivia sign his first professional contract with Colo-Colo, extending his stay at Estadio Monumental David Arellano until December 2026.
It wouldn’t be too long before the centre back made his first team debut for Los Albos.
On April 9th, 2023, Alan Saldivia debuted for Colo-Colo in an away game at Santiago City in the Copa Chile, the annual cup competition for Chilean football teams.
Handed a start by then head coach Gustavo Quinteros, Saldivia played the full 90+ minutes in a 0-2 victory for Colo-Colo.
As the story goes, Colo-Colo ended up winning the 2023 Copa Chile, defeating Deportes Magallanes 3-1 in the final.
By far and away the most successful side in Copa Chile history, this victory marked the fourteenth time they’ve won the title.
Unfortunately for Alan Saldivia, he wasn’t a part of the Colo-Colo squad that won on the day.
Elsewhere, Alan Saldivia still awaits his senior international debut for Uruguay.
Nevertheless, he’s earned four caps for Uruguay’s U-23 team – the team that César Araújo currently captains.
Not part of the 22-man squad selected for the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament that takes place this January – February, Alan Saldivia still has a very bright future ahead.
According to Transfermarkt, Alan Saldivia has made 29 appearances across all competition in his professional career so far, tallying one assist.
A player who is only just getting started as a professional, regular game time at Orlando City SC may prove an attractive next step.
As we know, Orlando City SC regularly scout the Uruguayan market with Saldivia’s compatriots César Araújo, Nicolás Lodeiro, and Facundo Torres already on our roster at Inter&Co Stadium.
Orlando City UK will be watching this space for any more movement regarding this rumour.
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