O Atlético-MG is in negotiations to arrange the arrival of Colombian center forward Mateo Cassierra27 years old, currently at Zenit, in Russia. The information appeared in the local press and reinforces the Minas Gerais club’s search for a center forward, considered one of the main needs of the squad in this transfer window.
During a press conference held this Thursday (15/01), during Zenit’s pre-season, coach Sergey Semak admitted that the striker received an offer and could leave the team. According to the coach, the situation involves the athlete’s desire and is being evaluated by the club, which is already studying alternatives if the departure is confirmed. Semak also highlighted that, if negotiations are completed, Zenit will look for another name to form the attack alongside Sobolev.
The value of the negotiation is not publicly known, but the website “Transfermarkt”, a specialist in football market figures, values the player at 9 million euros (R$56 million). Cassierra has a contract with Zenit until June 2027.
Cassierra: career and playing style
Zander Mateo Cassierra Cabezas was born on April 13, 1997, in the city of Barbacoas, in southern Colombia. The player is right-handed and 1.86 m tall. He plays as a man in the box, but can also play on both ends.
From an early age, Cassierra showed an aptitude for football and began his training in the youth teams of Deportivo Cali, one of the most traditional clubs in Colombia. His professional debut took place in 2015, with Deportivo Cali itself. Physically strong and with good presence in the area, Cassierra quickly gained space in the main squad. Even though he was still at the beginning of his career, he caught the attention of European clubs due to his combination of strength, mobility and eye for goal.
In 2016, he was traded to Ajax, from the Netherlands, in a transfer that marked an important step in his international trajectory. At the Dutch club, he alternated participation in the first team with performances for Jong Ajax, a team that competes in the country’s second division. It was precisely in the B team that he had the greatest prominence, becoming top scorer and a key player in the Eerste Divisie title campaign, the first in Jong Ajax’s history in professional football.
Looking for more minutes at a high level, Cassierra went through loan periods, including a spell at Groningen, also in the Netherlands, and then at Racing, in Argentina. In 2019, he went to Portugal, where he played for Belenenses. In Portuguese football, he gained regularity, accumulated good performances and established himself as a reliable striker, capable of acting both centrally and in supporting movements.
The big leap in his career came in 2021, with the transfer to Russian football. First at Sochi, Cassierra enjoyed a high-level season, finishing the Russian Championship as second top scorer and helping the club achieve its best ever league placement. The performance caught the attention of Zenit.
Hired by Zenit in 2022, Cassierra went through an initial period of adaptation, but exploded in the following seasons. In 2023/24, he became the championship’s top scorer, leading the artillery with impressive numbers and starring in historic performances, such as the match in which he scored five goals in a single game. His performance was decisive for another national title for Zenit, consolidating him as one of the main strikers in Russian football.
Parallel to his success at club level, Cassierra reached the Colombian national team, making his debut in 2023. Although he only had three appearances and one goal for the national team, he became part of the constant call-up radar.
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