Ceppelini leaves Alianza Lima: “A lot of things were said; I was never late, I went out twice, and I don't drink alcohol.”

Editorial El País Pablo Cepellini will not continue with Alianza Lima next season, the Peruvian team announced after failing to qualify for the group stage of the 2026 Copa Libertadores. The club made the announcement on Tuesday. "Guillermo Enrique and Pablo Ceppelini are ending their time at Alianza Lima. We wish them success in their future sporting endeavors,“ the club said in a brief message posted on its social media accounts. On the same day, Movistar Deportes aired an interview with the 34-year-old Uruguayan midfielder. ”Everyone said, ‘You arrived and stayed for the Boca games,’ and yes, obviously I felt good there. Then I had a dip in form and picked it up in the Clausura, I had some good games, it wasn't all bad, I would have liked not to have been injured and to have played in the Copa, obviously. Alianza is a big club and always demands 100%,“ Ceppelini began. And he defended himself: ”A lot of things were said off the pitch. I was never late, I was always on weight, I was available to the coach. There were never any problems with indiscipline outside of soccer. There's that morbid curiosity. When I arrived in Peru, they told me, ‘Be careful with the press.’ While in Peru, I went out two or three times and I don't drink alcohol, but here everything is blown out of proportion, especially with Alianza. To be honest, people talk more about Alianza than about the ‘U’ winning three championships." Among other topics, the Uruguayan confessed his regret for one of his gestures. “Fans are passionate, and sometimes they don't remember the good things that were done. I regret making gestures to one fan in particular. We're only human, and we make mistakes,” he admitted. In the interview, published on the same day that his departure was announced, he said: "I still don't know anything about my contract renewal. I don't know if they're waiting to decide on the coach before looking at that issue. I would like to have a rematch and be champion with Alianza." The departures of the two players were confirmed after Alianza also announced last Sunday the termination of Argentine coach Néstor Gorosito's contract, despite the fact that only a month and a half ago they had signed a renewal for the entire following year. Alianza's board made this decision after the Lima-based team lost to Sporting Cristal, losing the chance to compete against Cusco for second place and direct qualification for the next Copa Libertadores. The home and away matches between Alianza and Cristal ended in 1-1 and 3-3 draws, so the latter was decided on penalties, which Sporting won 5-4. Following these results, and although Alianza finished third in the overall standings for the year, it will occupy Peru's fourth place in the preliminary phase of the Copa Libertadores.