Cruzeiro had a season last year with more setbacks than joys, but they still managed to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana. With his sights set on what will be his first continental participation since 2019 and not being so tight in the fight for relegation, he announced the hiring of Ecuadorian José Cifuentes.
The midfielder is on loan from Rangers in Scotland for one year. According to Brazilian media, there is a purchase option for when the loan ends for an amount that was not disclosed.
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“Cifuentes is solving the last bureaucratic issues for his arrival in Brazil. The player is expected in Belo Horizonte next week,” the institution announced on its social networks. In another post they uploaded a video of a man playing the bagpipes, in reference to the fact that the 24-year-old Ecuadorian had his last experience in Scottish football.
Cifuentes made his professional debut in 2016 at the Universidad Católica de Quito, went through América in the same city and in 2020 he was transferred to Los Angeles FC of the MLS, a team with which he won the local championship in 2022. In the middle of last year he arrived to Rangers, but after a change of coach he played very little and now returns to South America.
International experience with Ecuador
A member of several youth teams in Ecuador, he was champion of the 2019 South American U-20 that was held in Chile. With the senior team he is a recurring player and came off the bench in two of the matches that the team played in the group stage of the last World Cup.
It’s time for Cruzeiro, owned by Ronaldo Názario, which is in full reconstruction after its return to Brazil’s top division. With the Argentine Nicolás Larcamón as the new coach, the Belo Horizonte team has two wins and a draw in the current Mineiro Championship.
Box to box ☑️
Gols ☑️
Assistências ☑️
Dribles ☑️
Desarmes ☑️Seja bem-vindo, José Cifuentes! #FechadoComOCruzeiro pic.twitter.com/YFdirOm770
— Cruzeiro 🦊 (@Cruzeiro) February 7, 2024
