Under-21 rule boosts Chilean football sales

Last Wednesday, at the Tierra de Campeones stadium in Iquique, the Roja Sub 23 (led by Eduardo Berizzo) beat Peru by a minimum, with a goal from Alexander Aravena. In this group of players, now, there is the illusion that they will pull the cart for the long-awaited replacement of the Chilean team, taking the testimony of the Golden Generation. Of the summoned squad, 21 football players have something in common: they respect the youth timing rule required by the rules of the national championship. Clubs must play at least 70% of the minutes (1,890) of the tournament with a U21 player on the pitch, according to a rule that came into force from the 2015-2016 season.

Whether by obligation or by conviction, the measure has meant an increase in the presence of the Sub 21, not only in the First Division. It is something to see the case of the University of Chile, immersed once again in the bogged down fight for permanence, which was the first to end in this tournament, when there are still seven dates to go. the final.

The inferiors are the main suppliers of honor platoons, therefore the great asset of institutions (in theory). In this sense, the sale of football players is essential in the income position.

The numbers indicate that the rule has helped consolidate youngsters, who have been able to keep up later when they no longer have the backpack to fill. According to ANFP figures, in the 2021 season, 144 players contributed to the sum, which gave a total of 61,860 minutes. In 2020, there were 126 young participants. But what stands out is that these same young people who were under 21 and became starters, they came to be transferred, reinvigorating the sales of a downtrodden local football team.

Since the rule was created, five players have been sold in Europe. It is Luis Rojas, Tomás Alarcón, Diego Valencia, Victor Felipe Méndez and Marcelino Núñez. The last three left this year, taking a leap in their respective careers, towards more competitive leagues.

Núñez went to Norwich City, from the English championship, for 4 million dollars, signing for five years. As the games progressed, he earned a place in the Canaries and positive reviews from fans and teammates. “Marcelino Núñez is very orderly with the ball and immediately adapted to the way we want to play and do things. It’s fantastic to play alongside him,” said midfielder Kieran Dowell. Colina has six games and one league goal.

Valencia, on the other hand, signed for Serie A side Salernitana until 2026, leaving $2.5m in the cross coffers. The striker has accumulated 55 minutes in four matches in the Calcium. The third transfer is that of Méndez, from Unión Española to CSKA Moscow, for 2.5 million dollars. In the week, he was starting, for the Russian Cup.

In the particular case of Católica’s two youth teams, both were among the young players with the most minutes during the 2021 season, when they reached the norm. The striker (2000 category) was the leader in minutes last year. He recorded 2,510 minutes in 31 games, an average of 81 minutes per game. For his part, the midfielder (also in the 2000 category) played 2,077 minutes in 25 games; 83′ per game.

Méndez (1999 category), who became the captain of the Hispanics, met the minutes in 2020 and was one of the leaders in this position, with a total of 2,662 in 32 games. Indeed, the one who has played the most minutes in this season, crossed by the pandemic, is Carlos Palacios (2,896 ‘), who will leave later for Brazil.

Another piece of information to consider is that the three footballers sold in this market have added 200 matches under the Under-21 rule: 80 from Valencia, 72 from Méndez and 48 from Núñez.

Who also managed to be steadfast in his team was Tomas Alarcon . In July 2021, O’Higgins sold it to Cadiz in Spain for $2 million. This Friday, the national team started the 3-0 defeat against Celta de Vigo, opening the fourth day of La Liga.

The exception to the rule was the case of Luis Rojas (2002 category) who transferred from U to Crotone in Italy, in September 2020, with little to no lay first-team appearances. It was acquired for US$1.6 million. Rojas was loaned out to Bologna for the second part of the 21-22 campaign, but for the current one he has returned to the cast that owns his card, which is in Serie C (third).

National football has not exported players to Europe for five years. In mid-2017, UC sold Guillermo Maripán to Alavés of Spain. Then, in 2019, the defender would transfer to Monaco, becoming the most expensive Chilean defender in history: 18 million US dollars. The other who left was current Unión La Calera member Simón Ramírez, who left Huachipato to join Benfica, for $760,000.

The almost simultaneous departures of Núñez, Valencia and Méndez made it possible to take a new step. Not three players have been sold in the same transfer window since 2014. Eight years have passed, where five transfers have taken place: Nicolás Castillo (from Católica to Brujas), Charles Aránguiz (from U to Udinese, finishing at Internacional de Porto Alegre), Pablo Hernández (from O’Higgins to Celta), Igor Lichnovsky (from U to Porto) and Enzo Roco ( from UC to Elche).