Liga MX Transfer Talk: Big 4 offseason planning continues

Chivas striker J.J. Macías has struggled to find the form he demonstrated at León. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /

With Opening Day still a month off, Liga MX teams have started preseason training camps while front offices continue to wheel-and-deal.

Plenty of rumors have been dispelled, while wish lists are continually being edited and reformulated. Among the latest to be scratched off the chalkboard: that former Chivas star Rodolfo Pizarro would return from MLS (Inter Miami coach Phil Neville squashed that notion this week).

But while it’s quite stimulating to imagine big names joining your favorite Liga MX club, the meat-and potatoes work of filling out rosters continues apace.

In this installment of Liga MX Transfer Talk, we’ll look in on what’s happening with the so-called Big 4 (América, Chivas, Cruz Azul and Pumas).

Front offices of Liga MX Big 4 moving cautiously

Aguilas waiting to make big moves?

América officially severed ties with former Mexico starlet Gio dos Santos, ending his four-season stay in Coapa. The experiment did not prove beneficial for either party (4 goals in 44 appearances) and the U-17 World Cup winner (2005) will be most remembered for the terrible injury he suffered in the Apertura 2019 “Super Clásico.”

Remaining in the nest is Roger Martínez, but it was close. The enigmatic Colombian forward enjoyed a productive season (after sulking for a full year as a bench player) and coach Santiago Solari values him. So he appears set for another season in Liga MX.

Some wags figured Martínez would be sent packing after he and three other Aguilas violated Liga MX Covid protocols (and were each hit with a 100,000-peso fine), but Solari apparently interceded with the front office even though team officials are rightfully exasperated by Roger’s continuing scandals.

Those whose time is apparently up include Sergio Díaz (likely headed home to South America), Nicolás Benedetti (on offer to Boca Juniors) and Federico Viñas (headed to MLS?).

This comes on the heels of the news that striker Nico Castillo will not be invited back and the Aguilas move him to MLS. The Chilean striker has been unable to return to full fitness since the discovery of a thrombosis in his femoral artery about 18 months ago.

Can J.J. get his mojo back?

The Chivas have been digging inside couch cushions looking for money to restock their roster, but to no avail. Fans are likely resigned to cheering on the familiar faces that let them down the past two seasons. (So far, the only addition is midfielder Pavel Pérez, a 22-year-old who spent last season with Tepatitlán, the Chivas’ farm team in Liga Expansión MX).

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One player who has disappointed Liga MX observers is 21-year-old J.J. Macías. Since returning to Guadalajara in January 2020 following a sensational one-year loan spell at León, the lanky striker has regressed noticeably.

Some pundits wonder if he simply hit his ceiling, while others proffer deeper psychological analysis. It was thought that J.J. would be playing in Europe by now (there were a few offers in summer 2020; the Chivas declined to bite), but instead of working to boost his profile with Liga MX glory, the Guadalajara native fell into a funk.

Enrique Beas speculates that J.J. is struggling with depression, while also hinting that Chivas officials think his family and advisers are doing him wrong by whispering that he is the victim of envy.

Whatever the reality, the situation is so dire that he is in danger of being left off the Olympic roster and another sub-par season in Liga MX could shatter his European dreams.

Pumas cut training camp short

UNAM coach Andrés Lillini and his charges were in Acapulco this past week to kick off training camp, but inclement weather has forced the Pumas to pack up and return to Mexico City.

Perhaps that’s a good thing since it might allow Pumas Nation to get familiar with the new faces on the roster. The front office has added four new players (midfielder Washington Corozo, goalie Octavio Paz, midfielder Higor Meritao and striker Rogerio de Oliveira), while also bringing back defender Efraín “Chispa” Velarde, a member of UNAM’s four most recent Liga MX championship teams (Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011). Since leaving CU in 2014, “Chispa” has played for Monterrey, Toluca, León, Morelia and Mazatlán FC.

The bigger news is that the Pumas inked defender Johan Vázquez to a two-year contract extension last week. Of course, that is positive news depending on how you look at it. Insiders suggest the deal was made to secure full rights to the 22-year-old (from Monterrey) because ownership intends to sell him to a European club.

By completing the acquisition of Vázquez’s rights from Monterrey and arranging the new contract, the Pumas will get a larger payout from a transfer abroad. And if Vázquez enjoys a solid showing at the Tokyo Olympics, chances of a move to Europe are a real possibility.

Liga MX champs could lose versatile Rivero

Cruz Azul is still savoring its first Liga MX championship in nearly 24 years, but management can’t lose focus or their plans for a title defense could be scuttled before the Apertura 2021 begins.

The Cementeros have only seen one player walk so far (veteran Elías Hernández is returning to León, but he had been reduced to a late-game substitute), but the club appears disinclined to re-sign defensive stalwart Pablo Aguilar whose contract expires on June 30. Their unconvincing offer to the Paraguayan hardman is likely to force a training camp hold-out next week.

The front office did renew fullback Adrián Aldrete’s deal and has talked about retaining midfielders Orbelín Pineda and Luis Romo by providing contract extensions that include escape clauses should an offer from a European club be submitted. Even so, Liga MX clubs have inquired about Pineda and the shifty playmaker has been linked with a move to the Tigres.

As for Romo, Cruz Azul will be without the midfield stud for the start of the Liga MX season since he will be on duty with El Tri at the Tokyo Olympics.

Another key player whose status is up in the air is jack-of-all-trades Ignacio Rivero. Coach Juan Reynoso used the versatile Uruguayan at several positions throughout the season, but his loan deal (from Tijuana) is expiring.

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The Cementeros would love to extend the loan or purchase his contract (striker Santiago Giménez on Thursday called on the front office to get the deal done ASAP, an indication that Rivero is well-liked by his mates), but they are in real danger of being out-bid by the Tigres whose deep pockets could prove more enticing to the 29-year-old Rivero and the Xolos.

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