INCOMING: Julián Aude & Lucas Calegari

Monday, March 13

By Edgar Zuniga

The addition of Argentinean left-back Julián Aude to Los Angeles Galaxy is almost complete, according to a report posted early Monday morning by Juli Micheles, journalist for Argentinean-based TyC Sports.

According to Micheles, officials representing Club Atlético Lanús, who traveled to Los Angeles last week to finalize the deal with LA Galaxy, were returning to Argentina after practically reaching an agreement.

Aude, who will turn 20 on March 24, is expected to sign a contract for five seasons estimated to reach up to $5 million but possibly less, with Lanús only selling 70-75% of his value. In the event that Galaxy sells Aude to another club, Lanús will get a return once his value has been reassessed, with an eye to Europe or possibly an Arab club. In 2021, Celtic Football Club had expressed interest in Aude but a transfer never materialized.

Also, according to Micheles, as part of the negotiation with Major League Soccer, Lanús expressed a desire to move forward with a testimonial match for former Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri, who began his career with Lanús and returned there last year before announcing his retirement. Portland had announced this match to be played in 2023 and that Valeri would become a Timbers ambassador upon retirement.

Micheles shared that Aude is a talented left-back with sound technical skills, a good touch, with a penchant for attacking but also is able to focus on his defensive acumen and marking opposing players, adding that “[Aude] is a very good player with a lot of potential.”

The transfer is expected to be approved this week and all that would keep Aude (who is currently training on his own in Argentina) from joining Galaxy would be visa paperwork. Aude would be joining another South American youngster on the Galaxy defensive squad after the club finalized a deal for Brazilian right-back Lucas Calegari, who recently celebrated his 21st birthday.

Once Calegari’s visa is processed, Galaxy could make an official announcement as soon as this week and there is a slight chance he might be on the roster for Galaxy’s home-opener on Saturday versus Vancouver Whitecaps.