Two very ambitious goals were set at Alianza Lima: first, to achieve the three-time championship to continue reigning in Peruvian football, and second, to have a good campaign in Peruvian football Libertadores Cup 2023 and qualifying for the Round of 16 – something they haven’t achieved since the 2010 campaign – or otherwise finishing third to secure a place in the South American Cup.
Because of this, the blue and white board assured the two-time champion base to later attract renowned players who are hungry for glory and can be very useful to the Victorian team. appeared among them Luke Menossi. A skilled Argentinian midfielder who will be getting his first experience away from his country and was classified as a ‘full midfielder’ by Juan Pablo Varsky at the time.
With that in mind, we spoke to Luciano García, an Argentine journalist who covers Tigre – club where Menossi made his debut and played a large part of his career – who told us a little about the characteristics of the 30-year-old footballer that it is about to arrive at Alianza Lima to play the Libertadores Cup.
Who is Lucas Menossi and how does he play?
“This is a mixed steering wheel that has been converted into an interior or mixed steering wheel,” he told us first Luciano on Menossi’s conditions, whom he described as talented and “one of those players who you can see that they are contributing something different and who has a lot of technique with the ball at his feet”. In addition to emphasizing that his main virtues are to give “filtered passes, depth and precision with the ball”.
Although Menossi spent his entire career in Argentine football and never went abroad – he only played at Tigres and San Lorenzo – this did not prevent him from squandering all his quality at home. So much so that he caught the eye of renowned journalist Juan Pablo Varsky, who described him at the time as the “complete midfielder” of the local tournament.
Varsky praised Menossi. Photo: Twitter
“He was an all-rounder back then (2019) and with more goal power than in his current version,” he tells us Garcia, who added that the Crows have assembled a “very interesting midfield this season in Jorge Ortiz, also supported by attacking players like Walter Montillo and Diego Morales”. At the time, Menossi made 34 appearances between the league and national cup, scoring six goals.
That year he shared a dressing room with Gino Peruzzi, who has now become a fundamental part of Guillermo Salas’ plan. “I know that Gino recently contacted Lucas and influenced his decision to join Alianza Lima,” said Luciano García when asked if the right-back influenced Menossi’s determination.
Profile of Lucas Menossi. Photo: Transfer Market
How would you fit into Alianza Lima?
Since ‘Chicho’ took the helm from Alianza Lima, the blue and whites have played with a back four, three midfielders, two wingers and a forward. In this sense, Menossi can position himself “as the most progressive midfielder or with the most offensive responsibility”.
“He’s comfortable putting the game together and generating the game. He’s constantly asking for the ball and looking for passers-by who always pass him,” added Luciano. That way, both Pablo Lavandeira and Jairo Concha would benefit greatly from a combination in midfield and even the wingers that would be Gabriel Costa, Bryan Reyna, Aldair Rodríguez or even your own Hernan boats.
The idea is that the 2023 Alianza Lima version is much more offensive than it was in the closing stages of the last tournament, so “Chicho” will now have a lot more weapons to play his game. System in which Lucas Menossi fits perfectly.
Your first experience abroad
At 30 and with two clubs under his belt, Lucas Menossi is ready for his first experience abroad. And although he will not do it in a league recognized at South American level like Brazil’s or go abroad, the Argentine chose the two-time Peruvian soccer champion with the goal of playing in the Copa Libertadores for the first time and helping to win the three-time to achieve championship.
With that in mind, we asked Luciano if the Tigre player – because he’s still under contract with them – arrives at Alianza Lima in good shape. “Menossi has ruled out many offers from abroad in recent years because he felt that he still had to finish training and prove himself in Tigre, the place where he will always be comfortable, before accepting a new challenge assumes Today, at the age of 30, he is already able to do that.”
He also assured that what most seduced Menossi to come to Peru was to take Alianza Lima “as far as possible in the cup and make history” as the 30-year-old footballer never played in the Copa Libertadores have played. So much so that he put money aside because Tigre’s offer was “economically even higher than Alianza’s”. However, the player was intrigued to play this international tournament and face a new challenge in a completely different market.
Lucas Menossi started at Tigre, the club where he currently plays. Photo: Tigers
When are you arriving in Lima?
Although it’s a loud cry and confirmed by many that Menossi will be a new player Alliance of Lima, the midfielder has yet to arrive in the capital to sign for the blue and whites. What is missing? It happens that Lucas still has a contract with Tigre until the end of December, so it would only have to be “the player and the club to agree to the termination of the contract”, which could happen in the next few days.
Lucas Menossi started at Tigre, the club where he currently plays. Photo: Tigers