San Lorenzo de Almagro is grappling with a severe crisis marked by a series of judicial embargoes worth millions of dollars, the departure of manager Guillermo Franco, and a sporting outlook far from international cup qualification. In recent weeks, between seven and eight precautionary measures have been issued against the club, including one from France for $800,000 related to the sale of Orlando Gill to Lille.

The Chamber of Appeals ordered the club to pay a total of US$4,369,889.11 to former player Ignacio Piatti, who embargoed the social and administrative headquarters on Avenida La Plata. Piatti rejected a club offer involving cash, a percentage of future player sales, and TV rights until 2030.

Three other embargoes, from Gonzalo Maroni, Alan Ignacio Poch, and the club Independiente de Villa del Rosario, total more than $650,000. Former forward Francisco Fydriszewski requested the preventative embargo from France. French justice authorised the principal amount of $800,000, leading Lille to withhold 690,240 euros from the first payment to San Lorenzo. The club only paid the first instalment of a payment plan, accruing interest and a contractual penalty of $1,000 per day of delay.

Former vice president Néstor Navarro is claiming $2,400,000 for the return of four overdue loan contracts. The current leadership acknowledges one of these obligations, valued at $1,050,000, due in November or upon a potential sale of Alexis Cuello.

Manuel Agote explained the institutional situation. "The current board of directors analysed that possibility, but for several factors was not entirely convinced, the most prominent being that the club's statute indicates the decision to go into a formal process must be approved by the members' assembly," Agote said.

On the pitch, the crisis is reflected in the standings. San Lorenzo sits 12th in the Liga Profesional with 11 points from 11 games, 14 points behind leaders Instituto Cordoba. Their last outing was a 3-0 defeat to Defensa y Justicia on October 3, with goals conceded from Jeremías Lucco, Héctor David Martínez and David Barbona. The team has only one win in its last five matches.

Guillermo Franco ceased to be the club's manager by mutual agreement at the start of the week. His departure was anticipated following the arrival of head coach Rubén Darío Insua, with whom he had ideological differences. Franco led the institutional football project alongside Martín Saric and Walter Perazzo. The club is seeking a replacement, with names like Matías Caruzzo and Federico Lussenhoff informally circulating.

The squad also faces uncertainty. The only player renewed so far is 22-year-old midfielder Gonzalo Alassia. Over ten players have contracts ending this year with no substantial renewal news, except possibly for José Devecchi and one or two others. The team now prepares to host Deportivo Riestra on October 11, in a clash between the 11th and 12th-placed sides.

Further reading: lanacion.com.ar