Wrexham have shopped abroad for the first time under Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, with more foreign imports potentially to come.
Ryan Reynolds once spoke about signing players from Uruguay as he found himself excited about the prospect of Wrexham shopping abroad.
It’s taken a while, but Liberato Cacace has joined Wrexham from Empoli, with the New Zealand star becoming the first signing from abroad in the Phil Parkinson era.
One may bring two, though, as reports suggest that Wrexham are interested in signing Juan Camilo Portilla from Talleres in Argentina.
Wrexham fans have been left a little confused, though, as the initial reports claimed that very-similarly-named former teammate Juan Carlos Portillo was the target.
Portillo recently joined River Plate from Talleres, so there has been some confusion in terms of the identity of Wrexham’s target.
Portilla is now the name in the mix, so let’s dig into who he is and what Wrexham could be signing this summer.
- READ MORE: Wrexham’s confirmed transfers in 2025 summer window, incomings, outgoings and latest rumours
What position does Juan Camilo Portilla play?
Portilla has proven himself to be a versatile performer, but most of his appearances in his career have come as a central midfielder or holding midfielder.
There is some defensive versatility in Portilla’s game, as he has also filled in as a centre-back in the past.
Who has Juan Camilo Portilla played for?
Portilla hails from Cali in Colombia and started his career in the youth ranks of hometown club Boca Juniors Cali.
Universitario Popayan snapped up Portilla as a teenager, and he then spent a very brief period in the United States with Jacksonville Armada in 2018.
Portilla quickly returned to South America, this time joining Chilean side Deportes Melipilla before another swift move back to Colombia with Alianza Petrolera.
Portilla headed back to Cali with America de Cali in 2022, first joining on loan before turning the move permanent in 2023.
Now in Argentina with Talleres de Cordoba, Portilla has been a regular starter ever since his 2024 switch.
How old is Juan Camilo Portilla, and how tall is he?
Portilla is currently 26, but will turn 27 on September 12, just about a month into the Championship season.
The midfielder stands at around 6ft tall and has earned a reputation as a tough-tackling, combative player.
Does Juan Camilo Portilla have international caps?
Yes, Portilla has picked up three caps for Colombia, having previously represented his country at Under-15 level.
Portilla’s first senior call-up came against the United States in 2023, but he had to wait until September 2024 for his debut, featuring as a substitute against Argentina.
Portilla has also picked up caps against Uruguay and Ecuador, starting both of those games.
How long is Juan Camilo Portilla’s contract at Talleres?
Portilla signed for Talleres in January 2024 and signed a contract until December 31, 2026, though Talleres are thought to have a one-year option on that deal.
That means Portilla is technically inside the final 18 months of his contract, though Talleres would likely trigger that option to take him through to 2027.
Has a Colombian ever played for Wrexham?
If Portilla makes the move to Wrexham, he would become the first Colombian to pull on the famous red shirt.
In fact, no players from the CONMEBOL nations have ever represented Wrexham, so Portilla could make history with a move to the STōK Cae Ras.