Eusebio Unzué: "If Carlos Rodríguez had come, the signing of Nairo Quintana would still take place"

Nairo Quintana's return to Movistar Team has been a hot topic in the cycling world and team boss Eusebio Unzué offered a revealing perspective on this decision and other crucial aspects for the Spanish outfit.

"He still has interesting things to give us. He's a rider who has contributed a lot to this team," Unzué told AS after the presentation, emphasizing the contribution and potential Quintana can offer the team.

The key meeting between Unzué and Quintana took place during the fourth stage of La Vuelta on August 29, when Andorra received the start. At a significant moment, Nairo, who usually resides in Andorra, came over to greet and dialogue with Eusebio. "Yes, that day was important, and we also had dinner," revealed Unzué, underlining the relevance of that negotiation for the Colombian's return to the team.

However, there were other movements in the team at that time. Carlos Rodríguez, despite having an agreement, moved away from Movistar. Faced with this, Unzué clarified: "Probably, if Carlos had come, the arrival of Nairo would still take place. It didn't affect him, they were different things," clearing up any possible interference between the two situations.

While Quintana's return has been a point of interest, Unzué also highlighted another crucial issue for the team: the active search for a second sponsor. This operation, still underway, seeks to strengthen the team's financial structure and ensure its long-term sustainability.