Paul Piatti is poised to leave Elche when his contract expires on 30 June, with the club not planning to include him in next season’s squad. The veteran forward has spent a year and a half in Alicante, a period marked by steady if mixed contributions and a leadership presence in the locker room. As the window closes on an association that began toward the end of the 2018-19 campaign, Piatti will assess options for the next chapter of his long career.
Piatti joined Elche in February 2019 after concluding his stint with Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. His arrival came amid efforts to inject experience and versatility into the attacking ranks, and he quickly became part of a broader rotation under the management team at that time. In the 2019-20 season, his involvement grew gradually, with important minutes in the league during the late run, showing flashes of the form that had characterized his time with previous clubs. Over the current campaign, however, his presence on the field diminished, as he featured in only around ten league appearances and logged a total of 308 minutes. In the Copa del Rey, Piatti accumulated 206 minutes across the first three rounds against Leioa, Unionistas de Salamanca, and Almería, reflecting a clear downturn from the high-impact performances he delivered at Latics and Espanyol in earlier stages of his career. These numbers illustrate a trend in which his role in Elche’s build-up and offensive rhythm became more limited as the season progressed.
With the contract set to expire and discussions about a renewed agreement not advancing, Piatti’s departure appears likely to mark the end of an era for Elche. At 33 years old, the striker is expected to return to his homeland, where he enjoys a devoted fan base that has followed his journey since his youth days. His path forward is anticipated to include continued competitive football, potentially featuring him in the Copa Libertadores as he explores opportunities to continue playing at a high level through June and beyond. Reports from El Día de la Plata suggest talks between Piatti and the club are nearing a resolution, and a formal announcement could come in the near future. Fans and observers will be watching closely to see whether the next move will see Piatti rejoin a South American side or pursue alternative avenues within European football.
Guidio Carrillo, another forward who has also parted ways with Elche and is not expected to be renewed, remains open to new options within Spanish football. Carrillo has emerged as one of the team’s most productive scorers over the last two seasons, drawing interest from clubs such as Cadiz and Osasuna. Yet there is also interest from Argentine teams, and Piatti figures among the names discussed by supporters as a potential link to a return to South American football. The possibility exists that Carrillo and his counterpart could chart separate paths, with Carrillo evaluating opportunities to stay in Spain while Piatti considers a return to the Argentine league to bring a European chapter to a close on familiar soil.
Throughout his time with Elche, Piatti carried himself with a professional demeanour that earned respect from teammates and staff. His best period in front of goal and in the creative phases of play came in January, a spell briefly coinciding with Lucas Boyé’s injury absence. That stretch suggested the potential for a renewed partnership or a more prominent attacking role had circumstances been different. As things stand, it appears Piatti’s journey with Elche is drawing to a close, and the club will move forward under new leadership and a reshaped squad that aims to build for the next campaign without his presence on the pitch.