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Carlos Valdes is officially back in South America.
The Union confirmed today that the rumors we first heard back in January from Juan Arango were indeed true. The 29-year-old center back will go on loan to Uruguayan side Nacional for the entirety of 2015.
The Uruguayan Primera División club announced Wednesday on their website that Valdés was in Montevideo to finalize the paperwork to send the Colombian international on a one-year loan. This was delayed a day due to a missed flight from Miami to the Uruguayan Capitol. With things in place, Valdés will look to lead Nacional toward the Copa Libertadores. His run at the Copa was cut short last year when San Lorenzo allegedly didn't pay him for six months, forcing a return to MLS and the Philadelphia Union.
Nacional has a long and storied history. One of Uruguay's most decorated teams, they have won the Primera 44 times in the tournament's 115 year history. Only rivals Peñarol have won it more often, going for their fiftieth title this year. However, Nacional currently has a ten point lead on the second place club Racing exactly at the halfway point of the season. Nacional also has a berth in the Copa Libertadores 2015, losing their first match against Chilean side Palestino 1-0 on February 5, with their next match coming on February 12 in the First Round of the tournament.