Four Peruvians make their Europa League and Conference League debuts with an eye on the national team

None of the four will set foot in the Champions League this season, but that doesn't take any shine off the story: for the first time in a good while, Peruvians are spread across both the Europa League and the Conference League at the same time. Three in one tournament, one in the other, and all of them, in some way, with an eye on Mano Menezes.

Let's start with the one who's spent the least time settled in Europe. Adrian Ugarriza signed with Hapoel Be'er Sheva of Israel and arrived just in time to make the continental roster. He was greeted with applause at his presentation, the kind of reception a club tends to give when it needs goals and thinks it has found them. For the Peruvian forward, this will be his baptism in European club competition, and not just any competition: the Europa League.

Hapoel's debut is set for Wednesday, September 17 against Dinamo Zagreb, an opponent with a special twist: that's where Matteo Perez Vinlof plays, the other Peruvian (or Peruvian by descent) on this list. The defender still hasn't closed the door on any national team: he's shown interest in playing for Sweden, though the possibility of representing Peru remains alive given his heritage. For now, he says, his focus is strictly on his day to day at club level.

Joao Grimaldo rounds out the Europa League trio, though his current situation at Sparta Prague calls for patience: he needs to win back minutes and consistency after a stretch with a smaller role. What matters for now is that his name did make the registered squad list. Sparta also kicks off on September 17, hosting Alashkert of Armenia.

The fourth name shifts to a different competition and a different story. Marcos Lopez will play the Conference League with FC Copenhagen, a team that reaches this tournament coming off a domestic campaign that fell short of expectations. For the fullback, though, his individual situation tells a different story: he's shaping up as an undisputed starter, something he couldn't always say in previous seasons. His debut in the competition comes on Tuesday, September 16 against Braga of Portugal.

An eye on the national team

Beyond how each club fares, there's a thread connecting all four: the need to rack up minutes at an international level so as not to fall off the radar for Menezes' call-ups. In Peruvian soccer's export market, playing in the Europa League or the Conference League isn't just a showcase for the club, it's also a way of knocking on the national team's door ahead of the next rounds of call-ups.