Omar Alderete #3

Profile

With a prodigious left foot and a strong aerial game, coupled with a strong character and composure under pressure, Alderete has become an undisputed starter for Paraguay, playing every minute of every qualifier except the one he missed through injury – and he scored the winner in the 2-1 victory over Argentina. As a child he dreamed of being a forward but he is not known for his prowess in front of goal - Alderete’s great strength is in the art of defending. After coming through the soccer school run by Pedro Fleitas, who won the Copa América with Paraguay in 1975 and Alderete describes as “a great friend” who “helped me a lot”, he began his journey with Cerro Porteño in Paraguay. He has gone on to play in Argentina, Switzerland, Germany and Spain, and moved to Sunderland in 2025.

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