After hiring Pol Fernández, Boca Juniors’ starting midfielder in the 2024 season, Fortaleza is looking for another reinforcement, this time for the defensive sector. Leão do Pici would be interested in Argentine defender Gastón Ávila, from Ajax.
The 23-year-old defender would come on loan, according to information from Saulo Alves, from the channel “Glória e Tradição”, Fortaleza’s alternative media.
Sporting News tried to contact a club official, who did not confirm – nor deny – the interest.
If confirmed, Ávila would have his first spell in Brazilian football after standing out at Boca Juniors, Rosário Central and Royal Antwerp, from Belgium.
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Who is Gastón Ávila?
The 23-year-old defender was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 2001. He is the brother of Betis (ESP) striker Chimy Ávila.
Gastón Ávila started in the youth teams at Rosario Central and moved to Boca Juniors.
In 2020, he had his first opportunities as a professional wearing the Xeneize shirt and was loaned to Rosario in 2021, when he played 34 games and scored three goals.
Back at Boca, he made just seven appearances in 2022 before being traded to Royal Antwerp in Belgium. His time at the club yielded three titles: Belgian League, Belgian Cup and Belgian Super Cup.
In August 2023, Ajax announced the purchase of Gastón Ávila for 12 million and 500 thousand euros from the Belgian club.
Since then, Gastón has been listed for eight first-team games and just one game for Ajax’s B team.
During training, the defender suffered a serious knee injury and has been out of action for almost a year, since January 19, 2024. He underwent surgery during the period.
Gastón Ávila’s injury history
- Knee injury: since January 2024
- Thigh muscle injury: September 21 to October 12, 2021
- Shoulder Injury: March 12-27, 2021
MORE: Who is Pol Fernández, the Boca Juniors player who signed for Fortaleza?
How Gastón Ávila plays
Gaston Ávila is left-footed and stood out for his agility and good ball release. At Fortaleza, he could play on the left side of the defense, which is constantly modified by Juan Pablo Vojvoda.
Recently, Leão do Pici recommended the stay of Chilean Benjamín Kuscevic and has, in addition to him, Brítez, Tite and Cardona for the sector.
In the 2024 season, Fortaleza played with two to three defenders, usually in a 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 system. Therefore, Ávila would arrive at Pici with weight reinforcement status.
Who did Fortaleza hire for 2025?
Fortaleza has only two confirmed reinforcements for 2025 so far: midfielder Pol Fernández, who was from Boca Juniors, and left-back Diogo Barbosa, from Fluminense.
In this way, they are closed with Leão do Pici for 2025:
- Paul Fernandez
- Brenno
- Diogo Barbosa
- Dylan Borrero
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Fortaleza negotiations: reinforcements for 2025
The board’s main job must be to try to maintain the team that had a historic score in the 2024 Brasileirão.
One player who could reach Pici is David Luiz. The 37-year-old defender’s contract will not be renewed with Flamengo and, according to Venê Casagrande, he can play for Pici’s Tricolor.
Gastón Ávila is another athlete who could be of interest to Fortaleza, as reported by Saulo Alves, from the channel “Glória e Tradição”, Fortaleza’s alternative media.
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Players leaving Fortaleza
- Maurício Kozlinski: end of contract and will not renew, agreed with Vila Nova-GO
- Ronald: end of contract and will not renew
- Edinho: end of contract and will not renew
- Sammuel: terminated with Fortaleza during loan to ABC
- Escobar: signed a pre-contract with Santos and will defend Peixe
- Hercules: the midfielder was sold to Fluminense for R$29 million, the biggest sale in Ceará football.
- Bruno Melo: player was on loan to the Coritiba and was hired permanently.
- Black: side terminated with Leão do Pici and closed with Athletico-PR.
MORE: Brazilian Championship 2024: what was the prize for each club?
Players returning from loan to Fortaleza
- Marcelo Benevenuto: contract with Coritiba ends and player returns to Fortaleza
- Pedro Rocha: contract with Criciúma ends and player returns to Fortaleza
- Tobias Figueiredo: contract with Criciúma ends and player returns to Fortaleza
- Black: contract with Criciúma ends and player returns to Fortaleza
- Igor Torres: contract with Al-Khaldiya, from Qatar, ends and player returns to Fortaleza
- Brayan Ceballos: contract with Dynamo Kiev, from Ukraine, ends and player returns to Fortaleza
- Bernardo Schappo: contract with Botafogo-SP ends and player returns to Fortaleza
- Thiago Galhardo: contract with Goiás ends and player returns to Fortaleza, but must be negotiated. Criciúma expressed interest in the athlete.
- Guilherme Cachoreira: contract with Remo ends and player returns to Fortaleza
