Rosario Central has officially confirmed the sale of Lautaro Blanco to Elche, marking a clear step in the player’s career path. The club announced on its social channels that Blanco will continue his professional journey with Elche starting in 2023, confirming that the transfer is completed in full. The defender will wear the Rosario Central jersey until the current season concludes, after which his move to the Spanish side becomes active.
Despite the absence of formal approval from Martínez Valero, Christian Bragarnik has portrayed Blanco as one of Argentina’s most promising left backs today. The transfer is reported to be valued around 2 million euros, with the Rosario board having prepaid the amount in recent weeks. This financial arrangement underscores the club’s confidence in Blanco’s potential and the strategic value he brings to Elche’s squad on the left flank.
Blanco’s arrival at Elche is not expected to be immediate. He is set to return to Argentina to complete the current season before joining the Spanish club’s training group in January 2023, though his position on the left side may be adjusted to fit team needs. At present, Elche counts Josema, Mojica, and Clerc as options to cover the left-back role, with Salinas recently loaned to Mirandés for the 2022/23 season. The club will likely assess what steps are required to integrate Blanco smoothly into the team’s tactical plan and roster depth going forward.
The 23-year-old began his senior journey with Rosario Central’s first team in January 2021. Since then, he has appeared in 81 official matches for the club, providing 10 assists while contributing without scoring a goal. In the current campaign, he has played 25 matches across league and cup competitions. His market value has been reported at around 1.5 million euros, a figure cited by Transfermarkt, reflecting his growing reputation and the continued demand for left-sided defenders with his blend of pace and crossing ability.