Uruguayan striker Octavio Rivero signed for two seasons with Universidad de Chile from Barcelona de Guayaquil, becoming the third reinforcement for the 2026 season. The player expressed excitement for the challenge and omitted mentions of his past at Colo Colo, his former rival club. He will join Eduardo Vargas and Lucas Romero under coach Francisco Meneghini.
Octavio Rivero, 33 years old, officially joined Universidad de Chile this Sunday, January 11, 2026, after signing for the next two seasons. Coming from Barcelona SC in Ecuador, where he scored 25 goals in 56 matches over the last two campaigns, the Uruguayan striker is the third signing for the blues in the Primera Liga, joining Eduardo Vargas and Paraguayan Lucas Romero.
The interest from the sports management, led by Manuel Mayo, dates back to the summer of 2025, when his signing was attempted without success, opting then for Lucas Di Yorio on loan. This time, negotiations succeeded, and Rivero is already available for head coach Francisco Meneghini, who begins preseason at the Sifup complex in Pirque.
In the official announcement, Universidad de Chile highlighted Rivero's career, including stints with Uruguayan clubs like Nacional and Defensor Sporting, Mexican teams like Atlas and Santos Laguna, and Vancouver Whitecaps in the United States. His four stages in Chile are mentioned, but his time at Colo Colo from 2016 to 2018 is omitted, where he won four titles, including the 2017 Transition Championship. His qualities include technical association play, positional intelligence, finishing with both feet, and a 1.87-meter build ideal for aerial play.
In his first statements as a Laico player, Rivero emphasized his motivation: “I am very happy to join La U. I had been looking to come for a year and finally it happened. It is a very important step and there are great challenges in this great Club. I am at the best moment of my career.” He added that the club offers him “the power to fight for a title, to compete for some important cup, whether international or national,” and described La U as “the ideal place to demonstrate all my potential.”
Regarding his relationship with Meneghini, he revealed: “I know how he works, I know his ideas. I was able to talk to him before coming here. I know he is a very offensive coach, who likes to have the ball.” Rivero promised to bring “goals, grit, bravery” to the attack alongside Vargas, adapting quickly to pursue the championship.
