“Churry” comes to Rosario on loan from Racing Club until the end of the year.
31-year-old striker Jonatan Cristaldo has joined Newell’s Old Boys on loan from Racing until the end of 2021.
Newell’s have paid $125,000 to secure the loan deal and have the opportunity to buy 50% of his economic rights for $475,000 before the end of June 2021 if the loan is successful.
The goalscorer, who started his career at Vélez and has one cap for Argentina, is a controversial figure, having been accused of domestic violence against his ex-partner in 2019.
While many Newell’s fans called on the club not to sign him due to these accusations, the Club Secretary of Gender and Diversity released a statement moments after the signing was confirmed outlining that he must attend a series of workshops on gender violence at the club. They also stated that a clause was added to his contract to allow immediate termination from Newell’s if he is found guilty of domestic assault. The case has yet to come before the courts.
His signing brings competition and back-up to first-choice striker Ignacio Scocco but Cristaldo will be keen to try and force his way into Frank Kudelka’s starting 11 with Scocco turning 36 in May.
Cristaldo was prolific in his early career, scoring 27 goals in 52 games for Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine who he signed for after leaving Vélez. He then enjoyed modest spells at Bologna, Palmeiras (where he won the Brazilian title), Cruz Azul and Monterrey before returning to Vélez briefly for a goalless spell in 2017. He quickly moved on to Racing where he yielded 8 goals in 40 appearances between 2018 and 2020.
On Wednesday night, he confirmed his arrival at Newell’s by posing in La Lepra training gear while wishing his followers a ‘good night’, adding that he was ‘very happy and super motivated’.
