Club Brugge is interested in Elias Baez (20 years old), the talented left back from San Lorenzo.
According to the site Azulgrana Frenesythe Argentine club dear to Pope Francis would ask at least 6 million dollars (5.8 million euros) for the defender, who is also interested in clubs like Sporting Portugal and Botafogo.
He signed his first professional contract at San Lorenzo in November 2023, and made his first team debut in 2024. He is under contract until December 31, 2027.
The young Argentine left-back completely broke through at San Lorenzo last season, and is considered one of the most promising talents in his position.
He is also in 4th place among the best defensive U21 full-backs in the world according to the CIES football observatory. (https://tinyurl.com/4t3n4tbj).
Baez could become the future replacement for Maxim De Cuyper, who has already been linked with top English clubs such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Rigaux knows the South American market perfectly
It is no coincidence that Elias Baez has been associated with Club Brugge.
The director of football, Dévy Rigaux, who speaks fluent Spanish, is in fact perfectly familiar with the market for South American players, where he immersed himself during the period when the coach was Juan Carlos Garrido (from November 15, 2012 to September 19 2013).
Since then he has continued to actively maintain contacts in the South American and Spanish markets.
He always manages to convince the player first, which gives him an advantage during negotiations at club level.
He is trying with the Baez file, and others, to continue Club Bruges’ transfer policy at reasonable amounts.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck recently said (https://tinyurl.com/4r2k2fky) that Club Brugge have gold on their hands with De Cuyper (he is worth 12 million euros, according to Transfer market), whose departure could be anticipated if the transfer of Baez goes through.
“No problem if I have to stay here until 2028…”
But De Cuyper does not seem particularly eager to change clubs.
“A transfer must be a win-win for all parties,” he recognizes. “I don’t have a deadline or a team in mind. If I’m here until the end of my contract in 2028, that’s fine too…”
Coach Nicky Hayen also refuses to plan anything regarding De Cuyper.
“Everything is possible, we have no control over that. You never have it when a concrete offer arrives,” he declared.
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