Earlier this week, South American publication Bolavip asked a rather pertinent question. Just eight months after investing a cool £7 million in one of the continent’s finest young midfielders, fighting off competition from the likes of Celtic along the way, ‘How can Fausto Vera be a reserve’ at Brazilian giants Corinthians?
It’s a question many want an answer to. Vera, after all, was hugely impressive for Argentinos Juniors.
“He is a great central midfielder,” Argentine reporter Alejandro Giordano told Lance at the time.
“He has a good command of the ball, short and long passes. And, in the last few months, he has started to score more goals. He is very complete. The best player of the Argentinos Juniors and one of the best in the Argentine League.”
The £7 million fee Corinthians splashed out on the 22-year-old enforcer, meanwhile, made Vera one of the most expensive signings in their history, alongside the likes of Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and Alexandre Pato.
Celtic had expressed an interest too. Ange Postecoglou wanted another controlling midfielder following the departure of long-serving Nir Bitton. And, before bringing in Aaron Mooy, Vera had featured highly on the Hoops’ wishlist.
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Fausto Vera’s Corinthians move is not going to plan
After swapping Argentina for Brazil in July, Vera featured in 18 Corinthians matches during the second half of the 2022 Serie A campaign. But, as UOL point out, Vera may begin the new campaign on the outside looking in.
Corinthians coach Fernando Lazaro reportedly prefers Roni in the deep-lying midfield role, feeling that the Sau Paulo-born tackler makes his team more ‘defensively secure’.
Vera, then, has had no choice but to be content with life on the sidelines. The former Argentina youth star, UOL add, is currently turning out for Corinthians’ reserve team alongside the similarly out-of-favour Victor Cantillo.
The column went to find out why the Argentine is warming the bench,” the report explains. “Why is the Argentine in reserve then? Because coach Fernando Lazaro believes that Roni makes the team more secure defensively and with more marking in midfield.
“There is no other explanation. Fausto is a reserve because Lazaro is enamoured with Roni.”
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