Juan Cruz Polisel

Juan Cruz Policella joined Vélez Sarsfield's academy at the age of six, winning multiple AFA youth tournaments with Vélez's 2009-category sides across both the Infantiles and Juveniles divisions. In September 2023 he finished as the Sub-13 side's top scorer, with six goals, as the team won the Fiesta CONMEBOL Evolución, and he has also been part of Vélez youth squads that claimed continental honours at the Copa Libertadores Juvenil level.

That academy pedigree translated into a professional contract on 2 September 2025, tying Policella to Vélez Sarsfield until the end of 2027 and carrying a release clause of $15 million. He made his debut for the reserve side in the Torneo Proyección before scoring his first goal at that level in February 2026. His senior bow came in the Liga Profesional on 29 August 2026, when he came on as a substitute in the 85th minute of a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Riestra, and he earned his first start the following month.

At international level, Policella has represented Argentina through the youth ranks, moving from the Under-15s to the Under-17 setup. Although he was eligible to play for Chile through his grandmother, he turned down an approach from that federation in 2023 to remain with Argentina. He was the leading scorer at the 2026 South American Under-17 Championship, with seven goals including a brace against Venezuela, as Argentina reached the final before losing 1-0 to Colombia.

Policella has built a reputation for his technical ability and his fondness for the rabona, a trait that has earned him the nickname "el pibe de las rabonas".