- The goalkeeper played a decisive role in Cerro Porteño’s draw away to Palmeiras in Brazil.
- Roffo joined ‘Ciclón’ in the latest transfer window and replaced Alexis Martín Arias between the posts.
Manuel Roffo enjoyed his first great night in goal for Cerro Porteño in what was also his toughest test since arriving at the ‘Ciclón de Barrio Obrero’. The 26-year-old Argentine produced a series of crucial saves to keep his team in the game away to Palmeiras in the first leg of the CONMEBOL Libertadores Round of 16.
Ariel Holan’s side secured a dramatic late draw at Allianz Parque in São Paulo thanks to Carlos Miguel’s stoppage-time own goal and Roffo’s outstanding performance between the posts, with the goalkeeper emerging as one of the key new faces in the Paraguayan side.
Alexis Martín Arias, another Argentine goalkeeper, had been the last line of resistance during the Group Stage. After his transfer to Nacional of Uruguay, the ‘Azulgrana’ board went in search of a replacement and found his successor in Manuel Roffo. A product of Boca Juniors’ youth academy, he left for Tigre after receiving few opportunities between the posts for ‘Xeneize’.
At ‘Matador’, he alternated as first-choice goalkeeper, initially in the second division and later in the top flight. In 2023, after leaving the Victoria-based club as a free agent, he joined newly promoted Instituto, displaced club stalwart Jorge Carranza and began a spell that would establish him as a consistent presence until his departure. He made 120 official appearances, conceded 132 goals and kept 41 clean sheets.
His performances consequently attracted the attention of several clubs across the continent. His move to Paraguay was completed during the latest transfer window, with Roffo becoming a landmark sale as the most expensive goalkeeper in ‘Gloria’s’ history. On social media, supporters bid him farewell by recalling the many strong performances and results from his time at the club.
Roffo’s adaptation to Cerro Porteño was not entirely straightforward, and he even faced some criticism for his early performances. But against Palmeiras, he put any doubts to rest with a memorable display against one of the continent’s strongest teams, the runaway leaders of the Brasileirão and the most recent runners-up in the CONMEBOL Libertadores.
Roffo was called into action from the outset as Palmeiras looked to impose themselves with a high tempo and a succession of chances. In the 13th minute, he flew across his goal to turn away a powerful left-footed strike from Allan, who was repeatedly finding space by cutting inside from the right, and a few minutes later he again looked assured when denying another effort from the young Brazilian.
His most important intervention of the first half came on the half-hour mark. After a series of rebounds inside the penalty area, Vitor Roque found himself with a close-range opportunity, but Roffo rushed off his line quickly and managed to block an effort that looked destined for the net. Cerro Porteño weathered the hosts’ strongest spell with Roffo providing a reliable last line of defence whenever danger arose, and the dramatic late equaliser only underlined the importance of his saves.
“I never had any doubts that Manuel is a very good goalkeeper. He is a goalkeeper with many qualities,” coach Ariel Holan said in praise of him at the post-match press conference following the draw with Palmeiras. “I think impatience in football can sometimes lead to rushed judgements. Those judgements are influenced by results and by that impatience.”
