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Transfer Talk: “Get yer Liga MX program here!”

By Thomas Buckley

Nicolás Ibáñez has moved from Atlético de San Luis to Pachuca where he will be expected to strengthen the Tuzos attack. (Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Nicolás Ibáñez has moved from Atlético de San Luis to Pachuca where he will be expected to strengthen the Tuzos attack. (Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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Querétaro forward Hugo Silveira (left) is no doubt pleased that defender Nicolás Sánchez (standing) will be his teammate in the upcoming season. (Photo by Omar Martinez Martinez/Getty Images) /

Nicolás Ibáñez from Atlético de San Luis to Pachuca. Santi Ormeño and Omar Fernández move from Puebla to León. Lukas Podolski might join Querétaro? I mean, Cruz Azul hoisted the Guardianes 2021 trophy barely three weeks ago and already a few Liga MX rosters are unrecognizable.

Salvador Reyes also left Puebla (for América), representing a real upheaval at last season’s semifinalist. Camoteros Nation could be in for a long season.

Up north, defender Jaime Gómez and attacking midfielder Fabián Castillo went from one border team to another, trading their Tijuana jerseys for FC Juárez kits as new members of “Tuca” Ferretti’s Bravos.

The swaps and trades and free agent signings will continue another three months (the deadline for registering players is Sept. 22)

Liga MX general managers on speed dial

In previous installments of Transfer Talk, we detailed some of the moves made by the three cellar-dwelling teams, and also discussed early offseason moves by the Big 4 of Liga MX – América, Cruz Azul, UNAM and Guadalajara – as well as the two Monterrey teams.

América continues to shake things up as the front office transitions to a roster more to coach Santiago Solari’s liking. This past week, the Aguilas sent little-used fullback/midfielder Jesús Alonso Escoboza to Necaxa.

The Rayos, meanwhile, allowed striker Ian González to walk, declining to renew his loan deal. The Spaniard, an Atlético de Madrid product, was deemed surplus by Atlético de Madrid and he was moved to Toluca. González scored 6 goals in two season with Necaxa but hopes to benefit from playing alongside ageless wonder Rubens Sambueza (the top assist man in Liga MX last season) who re-signed with the Diablos Rojos.

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Just north of Toluca, the Gallos Blancos of Querétaro are eager to improve on their wildcard appearance of last season. One way to do that is improve their defense and coach Héctor Altamirano will now have veteran back-liner Nico Sánchez at his disposal. The 35-year-old Argentine was acquired from Monterrey.

Joining Sánchez in Querétaro next season will be his tocayo Nico Sosa. The 25-year-old striker will want to prove his value after failing to score a single goal during the past year at León.

Another new face with the “White Roosters” is midfielder David Cabrera who joins from Necaxa. Osvaldo Martínez will also be in Querétaro as the 35-year-old playmaker returns to Liga MX after a 6-month term in his native Paraguay. “Osvaldito” is a five-time Liga MX champion (twice with Monterrey, twice with América and once with Santos Laguna).

The Gallos players might have to wear name tags for a while since management brought in seven other players as well. The newcomers are goalie Washington Aguerre (from Uruguay’s Cerro Largo), midfielder Bryan Olivera (from Uruguay’s CA Fénix), striker Luis Madrigal (from Spain’s Salamanca), defender Betsiel Hernández (from Santos Laguna) as well as three players from Liga Expansión MX: midfielder Pablo Gómez (from Atlante), midfielder Damián Torres (from Venados FC) and goalie Ricardo Díaz (from Venados).

Next. Mexico fans asked to clean up their act. dark

But Querétaro might provide significant headlines in the coming days as former German international Lukas Podolski is mulling an offer from the Gallos Blancos. We shall see.

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