Roster juggling continues apace with more to come

Liga MX Matchday 2 offers several mouth-watering contests (América at Monterrey and Pachuca at Cruz Azul are the best of the lot), but many clubs across the league are still jiggering their rosters. And they’ll continue to do so for weeks to come.

The Liga MX transfer window doesn’t slam shut until early September which means teams have until after Matchday 12 to finalize their line-ups.

Such a late cut-off date will allow teams in playoff contention (and frankly, since 12 of 18 teams qualify for the playoffs, that means practically everybody) to make some changes well into the stretch run.

That will come in handy in case of injury or prolonged slump though funds and availability might limit potential moves.

Liga MX welcomes more new faces

Quite a few new acquisitions are still waiting to make their Liga MX debut, either because their legal paperwork is still being processed (UNAM’s newest player Eduardo Salvia was in Guatemala recently to apply for his work visa at Mexico’s Embassy there) or they’re awaiting results of physicals, or even waiting for a spot to open on the roster.

And already this week, new presentations were made.

In Monterrey, former Liga MX Golden Boot winner Germán Berterame was introduced as the newest Rayado. Berterame joins from Atlético de San Luis after a deal was worked out with Atlético de Madrid, the team that owned his international pass.

Across town, the Tigres confirmed the acquisition of Ecuador international Jordy Caicedo who will fill the spot vacated by back-up forward Carlos González (sold to Toluca).

The aforementioned Salvia was presented to Pumas fans after finalizing his deal to move north from Boca Juniors. The Argentine winger is the fifth acquisition for UNAM.

In Mexico City, Cruz Azul finally registered their first new player for the season, bringing Argentine winger Carlos Rotondi on board, but that is still not enough to satisfy new coach Diego Aguirre who was promised three reinforcements before Week 1.

Universal Deportes reported Tuesday that forward Gonzalo Carneiro was negotiating his transfer to the Cementeros from Uruguayan club Liverpool. Aguirre still wants another defender but GM Jaime Ordiales has been unable to deliver on his promises although whispers about Bruno Méndez (a 22-year-old Uruguayan defender currently with Brazilian giant Corinthians) have been circulating.

Pumas headed to the Camp Nou … both of them

UNAM pays a visit to León on Saturday in a Matchday 2 contest important to both teams. The Pumas managed only a home draw against lowly Tijuana, while the Esmeraldas escaped San Luis with a 2-1 win thanks to a late goal by Liga MX debutante Lucas di Yorio.

Next month, UNAM travels to Barcelona to take on the hosts in the annual Joan Gamper tournament. The Pumas accepted the invitation on Monday after two-time Liga MX champs Atlas turned down the chance to play the Catalan giants.

Beyond the honor and prestige of being invited to play for the Joan Gamper Trophy, “los felinos” would like nothing more than to stun another LaLiga team. Back in 2004, the Pumas shocked Real Madrid to claim the Santiago Bernabéu trophy.