Argentinian professional in Kharkiv. Who is Rafael Profini and why is he valuable

"Kharkiv" continues to actively strengthen the squad for the new season - after Oleksandr Yatsyk, they announced the acquisition of Argentine Rafael Profini. Who is he and what is remarkable about him? Apparently, the club spent a considerable amount - around 3 million euros - so it is appropriate to find out what they are investing in.

Not Like Ivan Kalyuzhny

The 22-year-old native of San Jose de la Eskina has been through the "Sentenario," "Newell's Old Boys," and "Belgrano" schools. In 2020, he moved from the province to join the "Union" Santa Fe academy - by the way, not the worst in the region in terms of educational facilities.

In 2023, he joined the first team of "tatenge," since then he has participated in 45 matches, scored 1 goal, and provided 6 assists.

He has experience in all domestic competitions, as well as on the international stage - in 2025, he played 5 matches in the Copa Sudamericana, the second most prestigious tournament of CONMEBOL. However, both he and the team performed poorly - this is evident from the ratings, injuries, and Santa Fe's overall position in the group (4 points and last place in the battle with Ecuador's "Mushuk Runa," Chile's "Palestino," and Brazil's "Cruzeiro").

He is a central midfielder, but, so to speak, of a "wide profile" - he works productively in his natural position, but can also drop back into the defensive zone if needed. Or vice versa - move up and play as a playmaker; in fact, this is what Rafael talked about in an interview:

"My role is probably more versatile - I am a box-to-box central midfielder. I can play as a defensive midfielder as well as a more attacking midfielder. In fact, I can perform both roles, so I would describe myself as a versatile central midfielder. My main strengths are ball retrieval and forward play."

A fairly accurate description: Profini reads the game well, adapts to the opponent, and at 184 centimeters tall, he is useful in the attacking phase.

It is worth noting that during 2026, the Argentine contributed with 1 goal and 5 assists, including "crafting" three assists against "Atletico" Sarmiento (3:1). He also played a crucial role against "Gimnasia" (Mendoza) - he was involved in a corner kick, held the offside line, struck like a purebred forward, laying the foundation for a 4-0 victory.

He was also instrumental in the fiery draw with "Independiente" (4:4) and another productive draw against "Boca Juniors" - in both cases, he provided an assist. He is a progressing player, with creative flair upfront - you will be amazed by his exquisite through passes on the flanks - and the ability to play constructively near the penalty area. He is not a bulldog or lumberjack like the hypothetical Ivan Kalyuzhny, but an option with dribbling skills, sophistication, and constructiveness.

Forced to Leave Santa Fe, Could Have Joined "Shakhtar"

On June 23, "Union" found itself on FIFA's "black" list. The reason was very unpleasant: a transfer ban caused by debts to Jose Angulo and Mason Rodriguez.

Moreover, this was not the first time the "letters of happiness" were sent to Santa Fe - as a result, head coach Leonardo Madelon found himself in a situation where he could not register the invited players and plan further steps. For those who didn't know, the start of their Clausura was scheduled for July 23 - meaning there was no time to delay.

And when you are offered 3 million euros (and you need to pay 800 thousand dollars to clear the legal-administrative mess), who would hold onto a player?

It is indicative that on the 25th, two days after the unfortunate news, Profini, accompanied by agents, headed to Europe to negotiate with "Kharkiv." A noticeable loss in personnel, but also a saving grace for the normal functioning of "tatenge" - according to Transfermarkt, the central midfielder is the third most expensive sale after Kevin Senon (3.2 million euros) and Juan Nardoni (5.75 million euros).

And now let's rewind a bit. A keen fan would notice that Rafael was already in our information space before the troubles with Mladen Bartulovich's team. At the beginning of last month, "Shakhtar" was reportedly seriously aiming to reach an agreement; as overseas sources claimed, they also offered 3 million euros but could not find common ground with President Luis Span and Christian Bragarnik's agency.

Personally, we believe that South American insiders exaggerated - "Shakhtar" has the resources and reputation to sign the player, even from a team on the brink of a financial pit (as was the case with Lucas Ferreira from "Sao Paulo"). Well, nothing - the guy still made it to the UPL, although it would have been equally interesting to see him in orange and black colors.

Most Expensive in Kharkiv's History

And also the first Argentine, as reported by the club's social media. Kharkiv, the city itself, has seen worthy representatives of this country, so now Profini has to prove himself.