Botafogo Sign Álvaro Montoro in Major Deal Ahead of Club World Cup

Álvaro Montoro, one of Argentina’s brightest young talents, has officially signed with Botafogo in a high-profile move from Vélez Sarsfield. As reported by Infobae, the Brazilian side will pay $9 million gross for 90% of the midfielder’s rights, with Vélez netting approximately $6.5 million after taxes.

While the deal is a financial win for Vélez, it comes at a challenging time. Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto will now face Fortaleza in the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 without one of his key players. Montoro, 20, had become an essential part of the squad, scoring three goals in this year's tournament.

Botafogo’s acquisition is part of a broader reinforcement plan led by investor John Textor, whose sports group also owns shares in Lyon and Crystal Palace. The Brazilian champions, needing to strengthen after a rocky first half of the year, see Montoro as a key asset for their Club World Cup campaign.

The midfielder has already toured the Estádio Nilton Santos and was officially unveiled by Botafogo. With 37 matches and three goals for Vélez, Montoro’s trajectory has been on a steady rise, and this move could be pivotal for his international breakthrough.

Botafogo will kick off their Club World Cup journey against Seattle Sounders on June 15, followed by matches against PSG on June 19 and Atlético de Madrid on June 23.