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Liga MX Transfer Rumors: Pumas pair bound for border?

By Thomas Buckley

Pumas skipper Alfredo Talavera (right) appears likely to leave the CU at the end of the current season as contract talks have hit an impasse. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Pumas skipper Alfredo Talavera (right) appears likely to leave the CU at the end of the current season as contract talks have hit an impasse. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Pumas Mozo Tala
Pumas fullback Alan Mozo was a constant threat on the right flank against América in the playoffs (here he keeps Aguilas midfielder Fernando Madrigal away from the ball during UNAM’s shock win in the Apertura 2021 quarterfinals). (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /

Key departures looming for Pumas

The Pumas appear to be running out of gas as the Clausura 2022 points toward the home stretch and the news that two key players are likely headed out the door this summer could hurt team morale.

Reports in the Mexico City sports daily “Record” suggest that goalie Alfredo Talavera and right back Alan Mozo could be headed to FC Juárez after the season.

Talavera – the Pumas captain and MVP – is out of contract and negotiations for an extension have met a dead end. The veteran netminder (he’ll be 40 in September) is demanding a two-year deal and management insists it can only offer one year. “Record” has speculated that FC Juárez is first in line to get “Tala”.

Mozo has been an integral part of the team’s recent revival, but numerous disciplinary issues over the years have him back on the trade block. His frequent indiscretions saw team president Leopoldo Silva shop him around during the summer of 2021, but there was little interest.

Mozo himself admitted to the errors of his ways at the end of last season, but claimed he had learned from his mistakes. While he is no longer generating headlines for off-the-field shenanigans, Mozo leads the Pumas with two red cards this season.

“Record” reported Tuesday that FC Juárez is the only club that expressed an interest in the mercurial 24-year-old and claims that Pumas management is discussing a trade.

UNAM enjoyed a fantastic stretch run last season and continued their hot streak into the playoffs where the No. 11 seeded Pumas upset top-seeded América in large part due to an electric offensive performance by Mozo.

Andrés Lillini and his Blue & Gold “Felinos” maintained their momentum early this season, too, sitting atop the table in January before hitting a wall as fatigue set in.

The cash-strapped club has struggled to compete in two tournaments due to a short bench, their success in Concacaf Champions League directly impacting their slide in the Liga MX standings.

And the FIFA break will not provide the Pumas with a respite either as the club has a make-up game scheduled for March 26 then faces a four-games-in-11-days marathon in early April.

It remains to be seen how these latest revelations might impact the UNAM locker room.

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‘Memo’ headed to MLS?

Rumors about América goalie Guillermo Ochoa being wooed by a couple MLS clubs are gaining steam. “Memo” appears disinclined to sign a new contract with the “Los AzulCremas” and the Aguilas front office is said to be composing wish list that includes Ochoa’s predecessor between the pipes, Agustín Marchesín (now with Porto), in addition to Atlas ace Camilo Vargas and Santos Laguna wunderkind Carlos Acevedo.

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