With the arrival of a new coach, the blues begin outlining their squad for the upcoming season.
The 2022 National Championship crowned the University of Chile first, yet the start of the new year fell short of expectations. In response, Azul Azul started charting the roster for 2023, aiming to shield the club from the relegation fears that had haunted them for years.
The leadership plans to strengthen key areas, and a number of players ended their contracts after the season. One notable departure was Junior Fernandes, who left the club for the next campaign.
Álvaro Brun, who arrives from Uruguayan football, also left on November 8. “Progress is tough without a clear plan. You have to work hard for what lies ahead. A club grows when everyone knows their role, not when a few do everything,” he told TNT, noting that he is leaving what he sees as Chile’s biggest club with a strong fan base in Uruguay. Likewise, Bastián Tapia did not reveal plans for the new season and eventually signed with Audax Italiano.
Pablo Aránguiz moved to Ñublense, while Ronnie Fernández parted ways with the club to join Bolivian football, joining Bolivar. “Ronnie Fernández returns home; a 2017 champion, former captain of U. de Chile, and international with his new team. He comes back to score more goals,” the club announced on social media.
Welcome Pablo Aránguiz! The midfielder joined Ñublense for the 2023 season. He has already completed the first training with his teammates in Paso Alejo.
Let’s aim for a strong 2023.
They also announced Ronnie Fernández’s return to Bolivar, a champion in 2017 and former U. de Chile captain, with a message highlighting his goal-scoring return.
They added goalkeeper Martín Parra, who arrived amid controversy and left when his loan expired. Two homegrown players saw their contracts end the year, Camilo Moya and Simón Contreras, who had been loaned to O’Higgins and Universidad de Concepción, respectively, and now must negotiate extensions or departures. The squad was already testing new formations in a friendly against Real San Joaquín.
Nahuel Luján returned from loan at Agropecuario, while Jeison Fuentealba, Rodrigo Cancino, Lucas Alarcón, Marcelo Cañete, José Gatica, and Nelson Espinoza were re-added to the fold. As negotiations progressed, Azul Azul kept a watchful eye on the market after confirming Mauricio Pellegrino as the new coach.
The confirmed additions
Juan Pablo Gomezwinger, fresh from Curicó Unido and with past experience at Catholic University, became the club’s first 2023 signing after passing the medicals. He will compete for a place alongside Yonathan Andía, while Daniel Navarrete could be loaned out.
On Tuesday, November 29, the club officially announced Mauricio Pellegrino as head coach, replacing Sebastián Miranda. Pellegrino arrives with a rich European background, having worked with Valencia’s academy, served as Rafael Benítez’s assistant at Liverpool, and later led teams across Spain and England before taking charge of Velez. In his recent seasons he guided Velez with a solid record of 56.41 percent, collecting 37 wins, 21 draws, and 20 losses in 78 games.
The second confirmed addition is Leandro Fernandez, a striker who scored 12 goals in 2022 for Independiente. He has returned to Argentina after stints with Inter de Porto Alegre and Nacional de Uruguay, bringing proven finishing prowess to the squad.
LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ DRESSES IN BLUE! A standout striker from Argentine football adds experience to the first team. Let’s hope celebrations and goals come together in 2023.
The third signing is Federico Mateos, previously with Ñublense, who signed until the end of 2025 after passing medicals.
The fourth addition is Matias Zaldivia, a former Colo Colo player who agreed to join the club for one season with an option for another. After his vacation, he arrived in Santiago and cleared medical tests to seal the deal.
Nicholas Guerra is the fifth signing, passing the medical and having part of his rights acquired from Ñublense, a club he left less than two years earlier after a 21-goal spell there. He signed until the end of 2025 and expressed his commitment to fighting for the team’s rightful place.
Christopher Toselli also completed medicals and was officially announced. The former Catholic University keeper, who previously played for Central Córdoba, joins as a free agent to compete for the starting spot in goal, a position held by Obal Campos. Toselli is noted for agility, reflexes, and calm distribution, bringing professional credibility and leadership to the squad as Pellegrino plans 2023 challenges.
The club also discussed potential reinforcements. Bolavip reported Gabriel Costa as a target, with clubs including Universitario and Sporting Cristal showing interest. Leonardo Gil spoke of the Peruvian striker, who had left Colo Colo and eventually found his path with Alianza Lima. Another name mentioned was Eugenio Ore, with the sports director indicating he could be an attractive option given his current form and history with U. Católica. The club president expressed optimism about professional, strategic acquisitions under the new coaching regime. Rumors tied Ronnie Fernández’s future with Universitario, reported by press outlets.
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