Sporting Cristal decided not to renew the contract with Omar Merlo and says goodbye after five seasons.

Changes in the celeste team continue to occur. A new announcement from Sporting Cristal regarding modifications within its squad. The Rimense team confirmed the departure of Omar Merlo after five seasons.

The football player who defended the colors of the celeste team and won two Peruvian tournaments in 2018 and 2020, says goodbye and leaves an open foreign quota in the team that reached the semifinals in the 2022 Liga 1.

"Thank you, 'Omi'! For your professionalism, your dedication, and for always giving everything for the celeste. They were beautiful years. Thank you a thousand times, Champion," the Rimac team said in their farewell message.

The Argentine-Chilean central defender was an important piece for the different coaches of Sporting Cristal, however, the celeste team has been taking striking measures in search of fresh air for the 2023 season.

Merlo played a total of 35 matches with Roberto Mosquera's team in the 2022 season, totaling 3059 minutes.

More than one departure in Sporting Cristal

In addition to Merlo, Christopher Olivares ended his contract with Sporting Cristal, after playing 22 matches in the 2022 season including the Copa Libertadores and Liga 1. In this way, the celeste team began to make different changes with an eye on the 2023 campaign, after reaching the semifinals and losing against Melgar.

The 23-year-old footballer says goodbye to the celeste team, a team he has been a part of since 2017 and where he failed to establish himself, despite the number of opportunities in the first team. Olivares had ups and downs and even had a stint at Guimaraes in Portugal in 2019.

During his time at the Rimense team, Christopher Olivares played a total of 106 matches, scoring 19 goals and providing 10 assists. In the last season, the attacker had a lesser involvement and scored only one goal among his participations in the Torneo Apertura, Clausura, and Copa Libertadores.