Rayo close in on Batalla's replacement, Emil Audero is set to arrive

Rayo Vallecano

The need to bring in a goalkeeper has led Rayo Vallecano to step up its efforts in the closing stretch of the window. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the red-and-white club is holding talks for Emil Audero and the deal is close to being completed.

The name of Como's goalkeeper comes after the club explored different options to cover the absence of Augusto Batalla, who suffered a serious injury. Aitor Fernández, Marcos Peano and Luis Maximiano were among the possibilities studied, although the route involving Osasuna's goalkeeper Osasuna did not quite move forward and the Maximiano option was practically ruled out.

Audero, a wide-ranging career in Italian football

Audero, 29 years old, was born in Mataram, Indonesia, although he developed his football training in Italy. He came through the Juventus youth system and made his Serie A debut with the Turin side in 2017.

His most sustained spell came at Sampdoria, where he established himself between the posts and surpassed the 100-match mark with the Genoese club. He also spent time at Venezia during the 2017-18 season, before later experiencing a loan move to the Inter de Milán in the 2023-24 campaign.

After joining Como in 2024, the goalkeeper was loaned out to the Palermo and the Cremonese. In that latter stint, he played 34 Serie A matches last season, a figure that underlines his recent experience in Italian football.

On the international stage, Audero chose to represent Indonesia and made his debut with the national team in 2025, after previously being part of Italy's youth categories.

Rayo are facing the decisive hours of the window with the need to close a reliable signing for the goalkeeping position. According to Di Marzio, talks for Audero are well advanced and the goalkeeper is approaching the Vallecas club.