Hot Stove League, Liga MX-style: Part Dos

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Lucas Passerini will spend the next six months on loan to Atlético de San Luis after falling short of expectations in Necaxa. (Photo by Omar Martinez Martinez/Getty Images) /

Necaxa-to-Atlético de San Luis pipeline remains open

For the second transfer window in a row, Necaxa has lost a striker to Atlético de San Luis. Lucas Passerini follows in the footsteps of Mauro Quiroga (Liga MX goal-scoring champ with the Rayos – Apertura 2019), trading in one red-and-white striped jersey for another.

Passerini was on loan from Cruz Azul but failed to impress, scoring only 3 goals in 16 games, although the Rayos did reach the (expanded) playoffs.

The loan deal has another six months on it, but Necaxa management cleared the path for the Argentine to leave for the Tuneros, prompting rumors that the coaching staff had enough of his locker room attitude.

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In San Luis Potosí, Passerini hopes he can reverse the trend of ex-Rayos with Atleti (and that includes coach Guillermo Vázquez who criticized Necaxa’s spending philosophy after taking the Tuneros job). Quiroga struggled to score with the Tuneros, finding the net just 3 times in 15 games. Rodrigo Noya, Felipe Gallegos and Ventura Alvarado also left Necaxa for San Luis, participating in the last-place disaster that cost “Memo” Vázquez his job in November.

For their part, the Rayos restocked at the forward position, acquiring Leo Ramos, Tobías Figueroa and Daniel López.

Ramos had two nice seasons with Lobos BUAP before an injury that relegated him to back-up roles with first León, then Pachuca the past two season. The burly 31-year-old Argentine hopes to revive his career in Aguascalientes.

Figueroa was playing alongside Quiroga in Chile when Necaxa sent scouts to observe him play in 2019. The Rayos ended up inking “El Comandante” instead (and got 18 goals in 32 games and a fiscal windfall when they sold him to San Luis in June), but kept the report on hand.

With need of a striker now, the “Electricistas” went back to Chile and hired Figueroa.

López starred with Cruz Azul’s Under-20 squad last season and was sent to Necaxa on a loan deal and Cementeros management hopes he’ll get some playing time with the Rayos.

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