Sporting Cristal has one of the most competitive squads in the Liga 1 2023 and several of its players have been performing at a high level this season, but one of them has won the affection of the fans over the course of the games and has become a key piece of Tiago Nunes' team.
We are referring to Ignácio Da Silva, who arrived at the Celeste team at the beginning of the season and from the first game became one of the standout figures in the central defense. That is why the fans are asking the institution for his renewal as soon as possible, something that the club also wants and is making the necessary efforts to reach an understanding with the defender and seal a new contractual bond.
Ignácio agrees to stay more years in La Florida and this could open the possibility of opting for naturalization, something that his environment sees as remote, but possible. This was stated by his agent, Diego Aguiar.
"I think it is a project a little far away to talk about, but if he stays in Peru for more than three years, naturally that can happen[...] If he manages to become a Peruvian citizen, I think it will be good for everyone," Aguiar said in an interview with AS Peru.
Can Ignácio play for the Peruvian national team?
If Ignácio Da Silva decides to become a Peruvian citizen in the future, he can aspire to be selected for the national team, but for that to happen he must meet the requirements imposed by FIFA for these cases.
The world football governing body says in its regulations, specifically in the section "Eligibility to play for national teams," that after acquiring a different nationality, the player must have, at a minimum, 183 days of residence in the country he wishes to represent.
"Without prejudice to Art. 5, para. 4 (a), unless exceptional circumstances exist, the player must be physically present in the territory of the federation for at least 183 days in a twelve-month period in order for him to be considered to have 'lived (...) in the territory' of that federation that year," the FIFA statutes read.
Ignácio Da Silva rejected offers from Brazil
Due to his good performances in the Liga 1, but especially in the Copa Libertadores, Ignácio Da Silva aroused interest from important clubs in Brazil, such as Fluminense; however, the accomplished defender would have rejected these offers.