A complicated transfer situation between both clubs, which involved the Court of Arbitration for Sport's mediation, meant that the 17-year-old spent the entire 2007–08 season without making a single first-team appearance.
[2] For the 2008–09 campaign, Sarmiento was loaned to Xerez CD of Segunda División,[3] first appearing officially in a 1–1 home draw against Real Murcia on 3 September 2008 in the second round of the Copa del Rey.
[4] Although not an undisputed starter, he did feature significantly[5] as the Andalusians achieved a first-ever top flight promotion, earning the nickname Currito de Jerez by their fans in the process.
[7] He made his first appearance on 3 October in a 2–2 draw with SD Huesca, scoring his team's second goal,[8] but was released by the Catalans in late January 2010 for disciplinary issues,[9] subsequently training with former club Santander to stay fit.
[22] In September, after only eight minutes of action in the Super League, his contract was terminated by mutual consent,[23] and he returned to All Boys shortly after on a one-and-a-half-year deal.