Jorge Aravena advises Gary Medel to consider retirement

Former Universidad Católica player Jorge Aravena has advised Gary Medel to consider retiring from professional football. Aravena suggested that Medel, an emblem of the institution, deserves a high-level farewell match to honor his career and quality.

Medel’s future remains uncertain as his contract with Universidad Católica is set to expire in December 2026. His recent season has been hampered by injuries, limiting him to 1,103 minutes of action across 19 matches. While Medel has expressed a desire to continue playing in 2027, either with Católica or at another club abroad, Aravena cited Claudio Bravo as a model for retirement, noting that Bravo maintained an intact professional image by retiring while playing overseas.

Medel has acknowledged the difficulty of meeting the club's high demands due to his physical condition but maintains his intention to remain on the pitch in the coming year.