Revista Fútbol Federal
By Mateo Ledesma
Huracán’s Winter Business Before Season Five
The winter transfer window is often where projects are either accelerated or quietly destabilised. For Huracán and Daniel Vega, heading into Gabriel Batistuta’s fifth season in charge, this one felt different. Not frantic. Not reactive. Almost calm.
After Batistuta delivered his strongest domestic campaign to date, Vega resisted the temptation to overhaul. Instead, Huracán entered the winter with clarity: protect the core, trim where necessary and invest selectively in players who could serve both the present and the future.
In total, four players left and four arrived. No excess. No panic.
The Departures: Sensible, Not Painful
The exits were measured and, importantly, expected.
Facundo Waller moved on to Monterrey for $1.3m, a deal that made sense for all parties. Axel Borja, unable to force a breakthrough despite promise, joined Nacional (PAR) for $350k, a chance for regular football elsewhere.
Mariano Riegel and Facundo Sánchez were both sold to Vélez for a combined $200k, reserve squad players who no longer sat at the centre of Batistuta’s plans.
There were no headline sales, no forced decisions. This was housekeeping rather than upheaval.
“Market Opportunities” – Vega’s Four Additions
When Daniel Vega unveiled Huracán’s four new signings, his language was telling. These were not short-term gambles or desperation buys. He described them as market opportunities: players valued correctly, capable of contributing now and potentially taking over key roles next season.
Each signing fits a clear succession plan.
Álvaro Andrada – Preparing for Life After Ibáñez
With Nicolás Ibáñez’s retirement looming, Vega moved decisively to secure his successor.
Huracán paid $875k to Belgrano for Álvaro Andrada, a 19-year-old Argentine striker who had begun to carve out a place at senior level. His return of three goals, one assist and a Player of the Match award in just 13 appearances hinted at a forward growing into his body and his confidence.
Andrada brings qualities Ibáñez has embodied: excellent first touch, composure in tight spaces and an ability to play with his back to goal. Dual-footed, technical and calm in front of goal, he is not a clone of Chiquichano, but a complement.
The plan is clear. One year learning under Ibáñez. One year absorbing Batistuta’s demands. Then, potentially, the baton is passed.
Wilson López – Planning Ahead at Left Back
Alan Morinigo’s rise has been one of the great success stories of last season. At 23, he is now indispensable and that inevitably brings interest.
Rather than wait, Vega acted early, securing Wilson López, a 19-year-old Paraguayan left back from Tacuary for $700k.
López is raw, but the profile is striking: pace, determination, natural fitness and excellent crossing ability. At 6’2”, he is physically imposing for a full-back and his athleticism allows him to recover defensively as well as stretch the pitch going forward.
There are clear parallels with Morinigo’s arrival: a high floor, visible tools and an unknown ceiling. Huracán are betting that patience and structure will unlock it.
Hugo Jiménez – A Future Midfield Conductor?
The midfield questions loom large.
Lucas Robertone and Agustín Palavecino are both 32. Tahiel Peralta remains, but interest continues to circle. The youth system has talent, but asking teenagers to immediately become the heartbeat of a Batistuta side is a heavy burden.
Enter Hugo Jiménez.
Huracán invested $750k to bring the 18-year-old Venezuelan central midfielder from Deportivo Táchira. At 5’7”, Jiménez is not physically dominant but his game is built on intelligence and technique.
Comfortable receiving under pressure, dual-footed and capable of breaking lines with either pass or dribble, Jiménez profiles as a modern interior midfielder. He works hard, understands space and thrives in tight areas.
This is a signing for patience. A year to adapt to Argentina. A year to grow. And potentially, a cornerstone for the next cycle.
Nahuel Alonso – Depth, Energy and a Different Threat
Darwin Guagua’s departure last summer left Huracán light on the left wing. Aguirre carried the load admirably, finishing last season strongly but fatigue caught up with him during the playoffs.
Vega responded by signing Nahuel Alonso, an 18-year-old Uruguayan winger from Danubio, for $825k.
Quick, direct and comfortable on the ball, Alonso impressed with his crossing and decision-making in the final third. He is not just a runner; he sees passes early and plays with intent.
This signing may prove deceptively important. Rotation matters. Energy matters. And Alonso gives Batistuta a different rhythm on the flank without disrupting the hierarchy.
The Internal “Signing”: Matías Moisello
Not every reinforcement came from the market.
Seventeen-year-old Matías Moisello has effectively been promoted as Huracán’s investment at centre back. His development last season bordered on extraordinary. At just 16, he was loaned to Talleres (RE), where he started 44 matches and finished with an average rating of 7.52—numbers unheard of for a defender that young.
Batistuta has spoken glowingly about him in private and the club believes he is already operating beyond youth level. Rather than block his pathway, Vega has cleared space.
Do not be surprised if Moisello becomes a genuine starting option this season.
Mateo Ledesma’s Verdict
This was not a window designed to excite the headlines and that may be its greatest strength.
Huracán did not chase names. They chased continuity. Every signing answers a question that will matter six or twelve months from now. Every departure was calculated.
There is trust here. Trust in Batistuta’s system. Trust in development. Trust that youth and experience can coexist without suffocating one another.
It may not be the loudest window Daniel Vega has overseen, but it is arguably one of the most intelligent. If season five becomes the year Huracán finally turn promise into sustained dominance, this quiet winter may be remembered as the foundation that allowed it to happen.
The Gaffers Lounge 
Leave a comment