According to FútbolUy, 21-year-old Spanish midfielder Sergi Oriol has been training with Peñarol’s third division team for a month. He joined on trial with American winger Juan Quevedo under the direction of agent Eduardo Juárez. Both players are sharing an apartment in Montevideo while adjusting to their new surroundings, aiming to secure a position in Diego Aguirre’s first team.
Oriol, who came from Barcelona’s academy and has played for CF Damm, UA Horta, La Nucía in Spain’s fifth tier, and Huntsville City in the U.S., found Uruguayan football surprising. “Every team, from the top to the bottom, presses you constantly. You have little space to play. It’s more physical than in Spain or MLS, where you get more time to think,” he said in an interview with Carve Deportiva.
As a central midfielder focused on building play from the back, Oriol enjoys “finding teammates between the lines, switching play, and making accurate passes to the forwards.” He may not be the fastest player, but he values his positioning, tackling ability, and endurance.
His coach, Julio Mozzo, emphasizes the significance of the club’s identity. “He always tells us to be aware of where we are, to look at the badge, and never doubt that we are Peñarol. We must aim to win every match,” Oriol noted, adding that Mozzo’s messages make a strong impression. The coach also expects defensive intensity and physical commitment from the players.
Oriol has already played in two official matches, against Wanderers and Albion, and experienced the enthusiasm of Peñarol’s supporters. “The Ámsterdam stand supports the team for the full 90 minutes. I had never seen anything like it. Even in Spain, during Champions League matches, the atmosphere isn’t at that level,” he admitted.
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