Montevideo, January 10 (NA) – Independiente began 2026 with a 2-1 victory over Alianza Lima in a friendly match held in Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of the Río de la Plata Series. The team led by Gustavo Quinteros started at a disadvantage but reacted quickly and managed to turn the game around in just six minutes during the second half. With their new signing Ignacio Malcorra watching the match from the stands, Rojo presented an alternative formation, designed to give playing time to players seeking minutes in the preseason. In this context, Peñarol appears to be one of the interested parties, a situation that has gone from projecting him as a possible starter to leaving him virtually sidelined from the squad. Regarding the transfer market, Independiente completed the signing of Malcorra, who arrived with his transfer rights after three and a half years at Rosario Central.
At Quinteros's request, the player did not show up for a training session and did not travel to Uruguay, which set off alarm bells at the club. Ruiz argued his disagreement with the economic and sporting treatment, while the leadership maintains a firm stance: he will only leave through a sale. In the Peruvian team, led by Pablo Guede, there was no Luis Advíncula, recently incorporated from Boca Juniors, although Argentine forward Federico Girotti was a starter. After a first half without emotions, Alianza Lima opened the scoring in the 57th minute with a finish from Argentine Alan Cantero. Independiente's response was immediate: in the 61st, the Uruguayan Matías Abaldo, who had come on for Ignacio Pussetto, equalized. Although he is already training with the squad in Uruguayan soil, he was not called up for the first friendly of the year.
Six minutes later, Santiago Monti sealed the comeback after a great individual play by Abaldo. The preseason of the Avellaneda club was also marked by the situation of Javier Ruiz, a 21-year-old winger who debuted in Primera under the direction of Carlos Tevez in September 2023 and was coming from a loan at Barracas Central. The 38-year-old midfielder signed a one-season contract and adds the ninth club of his career.
