For Uruguayan coach Guillermo Almada, nothing is impossible. While the América board continues to analyze the hiring of reinforcements, the Uruguayan strategist took the bull by the horns: if they give him oranges, he makes orange juice. True to his style, he has made use of the young talents of the azulcrema youth team.

The Eagles are experiencing moments of transition and are looking for talent in their basic forces to renew key areas of the field. The objective is clear: to promote the project that gives the club back the prominence that, not long ago, allowed it to achieve a historic three-time championship.

The faces of the cream-blue transition

Footballers such as the 19-year-old striker Alejandro Cárdenas and the Brazilian Ícaro da Conceicao have already added minutes in this Apertura 2026 tournament. Both join a youth base that already included Miguel Vázquez, Franco Rossano, Dagoberto Espinoza and Patricio Salas, who had received previous opportunities with Jardine.

But Almada's scouting does not stop. The Uruguayan helmsman has called gems from the Under-19 and Under-21 categories to the first team training sessions such as:

The mission of these young people is high: to begin to pressure and compete for the positions currently occupied by established figures such as Alejandro Zendejas, Brian Rodríguez, Henry Martín and José “Pantera” Zúñiga.

Almada's formula arrives in Coapa

The strategist knows that staying with his arms crossed and waiting for signings is not an option. For this reason, he ordered the immediate integration of the youth players to give them play gradually. It is the same formula that he successfully applied in Santos Laguna and Pachuca, consolidating at the time footballers of the stature of Elías Montiel and Bryan González in the Tuzos quarry.

Alejandro Cárdenas: The banner of the new breed

For now, Alejandro “Coco” Cárdenas has already raised his hand. At 1.89 meters tall, the attacker is an extremely interesting rookie: he stands out for his great aerial game and his good handling of both profiles.

Cárdenas debuted on date 1 against Querétaro. Although he only added a few minutes, the team's lack of offensive force will open the doors to consolidate and gain confidence in the top circuit. [1]

The other names under the magnifying glass

Ricardo “Rica” González (17 years old): At his young age he already plays two categories up in the U-19 and Almada watches him very closely.

Diego Arriaga: He came on the first team bench in Clausura 2025. Although he did not add minutes, he already knows the first team environment, which gives him a competitive advantage.

Marioni Araujo (21 years old): A central defender with natural conditions to become, in the short term, the ideal replacement for Israel Reyes, Sebastián Cáceres and Ramón Juárez.