- Alan Saldivia, who joined Vasco da Gama in January, has already become one of the key figures in the Rio de Janeiro side's defence.
- Solid in the first leg and decisive in the second, the Uruguayan produced his best performances across the tie that sent his side through to the CONMEBOL Sudamericana semi-finals.
Born in Rivera, the 24-year-old quickly established himself in the Cruzmaltino defence through a series of strong performances in demanding settings. His displays and influence across the two encounters with Independiente Santa Fe in the quarter-finals underlined his excellent form and the role he has earned in Portuguese manager Pedro Emanuel's system.
His development in Uruguay and move to Chilean football
He took his first competitive steps in Defensor Sporting's youth ranks in Uruguay. He later played for Montevideo City Torque before deciding in November 2021 to travel to Chile for a trial with Colo-Colo, with no guarantee that he would be taken on.
The Chilean club's scouting department, led by Enrique Troncoso, spotted his potential and brought him into the squad. His story in the 'Cacique' shirt is already well known: he made 95 appearances and won four domestic titles, including back-to-back Supercopa de Chile triumphs.
A fruitful start at Vasco da Gama
His move to the Brazilian side represented a step up, rewarding Saldivia's effort and hard work during his successful spell at Colo-Colo. His adaptation was interrupted by a calf injury that kept him out of action for almost a month.
His return was a strong one: he featured in the second leg of the Playoffs against Independiente Medellín, started the first leg of the Round of 16 against Olimpia in Rio de Janeiro, and played every minute of the quarter-final tie against Independiente Santa Fe, emerging as one of the standout performers.
He was instrumental and provided security in the 0-0 draw in Bogotá; he led all his team-mates for successful passes and brought calm when the Colombian side pinned Vasco back.
In the second leg, he once again showcased his defensive qualities while also displaying his attacking capabilities and proving key to the opening goal: he pressed high, won the ball back and, after bursting down the right flank, went all the way to the byline before setting up fellow Uruguayan Bruno Duarte for the opening goal that paved the way for qualification.
