Playing for 90
Fansided

Liga MX clubs start push toward July recommencement

By Thomas Buckley

The Liga MX is scheduled to restart with a new season on July 24. However, play will begin without fans in the stands with officials hoping this sculpture of a fan inside Estadio Azteca will have company by September. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
The Liga MX is scheduled to restart with a new season on July 24. However, play will begin without fans in the stands with officials hoping this sculpture of a fan inside Estadio Azteca will have company by September. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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Maxi Meza, Monterrey (Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

Two northern giants forced to confront bloated payrolls

Two teams facing similar problems to the Chivas are the Rayados and the Tigres. The Monterrey-based clubs have boasted huge payrolls in Liga MX for several seasons. The Rayados were No. 1 heading into the Clausura with wage packages exceeding 74 million pesos.

The Rayados boasted four of the 10 highest-paid players in Liga MX heading into the Clausura 2020 – Maxi Meza-$10.5 million; Rogelio Funes Mori-$8.5 million; Vincent Janssen-$8.5 million; and Carlos Rodríguez-$8 million. The first three seem secure in their positions, but Charlie Rodríguez could be sent to Europe for a tidy profit.

Monterrey worked hard to acquire forward Ake Loba from Querétaro in January, outbidding Cruz Azul. Now, the Rayados seem ready to sell off the 22-year-old Ivorian with the Pumas, Necaxa and Atlas all eager to make a bid.

Monterrey has already dumped veteran goalie Marcelo Barovero and left fullback Leonel Vangioni. Long-time defender José María Basanta also announced his departure, revealing that he’ll be going home to Argentina to play another season or two before retiring.

Crosstown rivals Tigres is also looking to pare payroll and three veterans on the block are midfielder Rafael Carioca, Team Mexico fullback Luis “Chaka” Rodríguez and striker Enner Valencia who has struggled to produce alongside André-Pierre Gignac.

Two of their players – Carlos Salcedo and Guido Pizarro – are among the 10 highest-paid players in the league at $8 million and they might be seen as excess baggage. Salcedo, a 26-year-old defender, is of interest to Marseille, but the 30-year-old Pizarro might be harder to move.

The Tigres also had to decide what to do with their loaners – Leo Fernández, Jefferson Intriago and Jeison Lucumí. Fernández – a flashy 21-year-old – was on the verge of re-upping with Toluca for another six months, but is now set to report to the Tigres camp.

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