Cerro Porteño Pursues Third Signing Amid FIFA Approval Wait

Cerro Porteño is in a race against time to secure its third signing, an attacking midfielder who has played in Europe. The club, led by Blas Atilio Reguera, is awaiting FIFA's approval to finalize player acquisitions. This approval is contingent on settling outstanding debts.

Once the FIFA restriction is lifted, the club plans to officially announce two Argentine players: central midfielder Agustín Almendra and central defender Lucas Merolla. Coach Ariel Holan wants the full squad, excluding national team players, to begin training for the second half of the season with consistent physical conditioning. Training is set to start on Thursday.

The team's primary target is Teodoro Sebastián Arce Villaverde, a 26-year-old midfielder who began his career at Olimpia and later won the 2025 Paraguayan Cup with General Caballero. Arce had a brief but notable stint in Russia with Rondina Moscow, helping them achieve promotion to the top division. He played six matches, accumulating 116 minutes on the field.

The Clausura 2026 championship kicks off on Friday, July 24, with Cerro Porteño facing Sportivo Trinidense at La Nueva Olla. Additionally, the team will compete in the Copa Libertadores round of 16 against Palmeiras between August 12 and 18, with the first leg in São Paulo.