Patronato has begun planning for the 2027 Primera Nacional season after securing its place in Argentina’s second tier, but the club faces a wave of contract decisions: 15 players’ deals expire on December 31, according to Uno Entre Ríos, while head coach Marcelo Fuentes has not confirmed whether he will return, elonce.com reported.

The permanence was sealed on the final day of the regular phase when Patronato drew 0-0 away to Atlético Rafaela at the Nuevo Monumental in Santa Fe, a result that was enough only because Chacarita beat Nueva Chicago 2-0 in Buenos Aires, sending Chicago down to the Federal A, Olé reported. The club will return to the division in February, elonce.com reported.

The off-field work now begins in earnest. The professional squad will train until Monday, November 9, with a weekend break, before players go on vacation; preseason is projected to resume in late December, elonce.com reported.

The 0-0 in Rafaela That Kept Patronato Up

Patronato arrived in Santa Fe needing a point and watching other results. Olé described the match as tense throughout, with Atlético goalkeeper Mayco Bergia starring through a series of decisive saves, including a hand stop to deny Joaquín Barolín in the 39th minute of the second half, Diario La Opinión de Rafaela reported. In stoppage time, Atlético’s Juan Cavallaro struck a header against the post of goalkeeper Alan Sosa, Diario La Opinión de Rafaela reported.

The decisive news arrived from Buenos Aires: Maximiliano Meléndez put Chacarita ahead in the fifth minute of the second half and Nicolás Pantaleone made it 2-0 at the 11-minute mark, sealing Nueva Chicago’s relegation and Patronato’s survival, Diario La Opinión de Rafaela reported.

Fuentes Says He Delivered, but Won’t Confirm His Future

Marcelo Fuentes, who took over during the final stretch of the championship and kept the team up, told reporters after the match that the job he was hired to do was accomplished, Análisis Digital reported. Paraphrasing his post-match comments, he said the team reached its limit in a draining, decisive match and that he was happy to have held the category, but noted the side again failed to score despite chances and lacked confidence in front of goal.

Asked about his own future, Fuentes avoided confirming anything and left open the possibility of a conversation with club officials to evaluate his continuity, elonce.com reported. There is no definition yet on whether the club will keep the current sporting project or hire a new coach — a decision that will shape which signings, renewals and departures follow, elonce.com reported.

Loans Ending in December and the Barinaga Exit

Among the central planning issues are the loanees whose agreements end at year’s end: Alan Sosa, Nahuel Génez, Brandon Cortés, Diego Díaz, Gonzalo Salega and Tomás Attis must return to their parent clubs unless new deals are negotiated, elonce.com reported. Those players arrived from clubs including Tigre, Boca, Unión, Portuguesa of Venezuela and 9 de Julio, elonce.com reported. Diego Armando Díaz could be among those not returning.

Uno Entre Ríos put the total of expiring contracts at 15, listing goalkeeper Alan Sosa; defenders Fernando Evangelista, Nahuel Genez, Maximiliano Rueda, Federico Bravo, Juan Salas and Facundo Heredia; midfielders Gonzalo Salega, Brandon Cortés and Benjamín Bravo; and forwards Franco Soldano, Diego Díaz, Hernán Rivero, Renzo Reynaga and Tomás Attis. Separately, elonce.com reported that Juan Barinaga’s contract ends December 31 and will not be renewed.

As in previous seasons, early rescissions are not ruled out to cut financial commitments and reorganize the budget, elonce.com reported. The upcoming transfer market could also draw offers for some of the club’s young players, a factor the club must weigh in its sporting and economic planning, elonce.com reported.

The Contracted Core for 2027

Beyond the departures, Patronato has a base of players under contract it can build around, Uno Entre Ríos reported: Franco Rivasseau, Román Peralta, Matías Caballero, Gabriel Díaz, Facundo Díaz, Santiago Piccioni, Francisco Lencinas, Luciano Pacco, Augusto Picco, Valentín Pereyra, Joaquín Barolín and Luciano Strey, plus Alejo Miró, whose deal runs to December 2028.

Elonce.com detailed the longer-term deals: through December 2027 — Franco Rivasseau, Román Peralta, Facundo Díaz, Santiago Bellatti, Santiago Piccioni, Alejandro Leiva, Augusto Picco, Valentín Pereyra, Valentín Villarreal and Joaquín Barolín; through December 2028 — Iván Cháves, Monito Díaz, Alejo Miró and Luciano Strey; and through December 2029 — Francisco Lencinas.

Three loanees are also due back: goalkeeper Iván Cháves (Aucas of Ecuador), Santiago Bellatti (Acassuso, which was relegated to the Primera B Metropolitana) and Alejandro Leiva (9 de Julio of Rafaela in the Torneo Federal A), Uno Entre Ríos reported.

Timeline: November 9, December 31, Late December, February

The immediate calendar is set: training runs until Monday, November 9, followed by a weekend off and then vacation, elonce.com reported. Preseason is projected for late December, contracts for a large part of the squad expire December 31, and the 2027 Primera Nacional campaign begins in February, elonce.com reported.

FAQ: Patronato’s 2027 Planning Questions

Is Marcelo Fuentes staying at Patronato? Not confirmed. After the 0-0 at Atlético Rafaela he avoided saying what happens next and left open a conversation with the club’s directors, elonce.com reported.

How many players’ contracts end on December 31? Uno Entre Ríos counts 15, including Alan Sosa, Gonzalo Salega, Brandon Cortés, Diego Díaz and Tomás Attis; elonce.com separately notes Juan Barinaga’s deal also ends that day and will not be renewed.

When does Patronato’s 2027 season start? The club returns to Primera Nacional competition in February, elonce.com reported, with preseason expected in late December.

Which players are definitely under contract for 2027? Elonce.com lists ten players through December 2027, including Joaquín Barolín, Augusto Picco and Valentín Pereyra, plus Iván Cháves, Alejo Miró and Luciano Strey through 2028 and Francisco Lencinas through 2029.

The next dated checkpoint on the record is Monday, November 9, the scheduled end of the squad’s training activities before the vacation break, elonce.com reported.