San Lorenzo's Leadership Under Fire Amid Youth Recruitment Scandal
The recent developments surrounding Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro have cast a shadow over the club's leadership, with the president, Marcelo Moretti, at the center of a bribery investigation. The allegations, which surfaced in June 2025, have sparked widespread concern about the integrity of the club's recruitment processes and the ethical standards upheld by its management.
On June 26, 2025, Moretti was officially summoned to testify about accusations linked to the recruitment of a youth player. These charges arose from a hidden camera recording that captures the player's mother, María José Scottini, claiming she paid Moretti a total of USD 25,000 in two separate clandestine transactions between February and June 2024. These payments were purportedly made to secure her son's admission into the club's youth ranks. Notably, the player's registration, which was completed on July 24, 2024, remains in limbo as he has not yet participated in any official Argentine Football Association matches.
Prosecutor Mónica Cuarro has pointed out the absence of these transactions in the club's financial records presented in December 2023, raising further suspicion about the transparency and accountability of San Lorenzo's financial operations. The situation escalated when police searched Moretti's residence to confiscate his cellphone, only to come up empty-handed. This incident has not only tarnished the club's reputation but also raised critical questions about potential abuses of power at the highest levels of its administration.
Amidst this turmoil, San Lorenzo's supporters and stakeholders are left grappling with the implications of these revelations. The scandal threatens to undermine the club's credibility and its storied tradition of nurturing young talent. As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on uncovering the truth and ensuring that justice prevails, setting a precedent for transparency and ethical conduct in youth football recruitment.