José Juan Macías, Chivas (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images)
After Clausura 2020 was scrapped, the Apertura now a month away.
Mexico is among the few nations that canceled its soccer season. Now as European leagues begin finishing up their suspended campaigns, the Liga MX is preparing to re-open training camps and prepare for the Apertura 2020.
League officials announced July 24 as the target date for kickoff and players are in the process of reporting to team facilities for Covid-19 tests. Already, more than 40 players and staff have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, including 15 players with Santos Laguna who tested positive in mid-May.
In addition to health concerns, clubs must also deal with the impact of loss of revenue. The fiscal pinch of the pandemic suggests there won’t be many big-money signings and it will surely affect how teams formulate their roster for the Apertura.
The devaluation of the peso as a result of the economic crisis also poses a big problem since many contracts are made out in dollars. That will change moving forward after league owners voted to mandate that contracts will be based on the Mexican currency.
During the upcoming transfer window, teams are likely to be sellers rather than buyers. The Chivas for example, spent freely in the December/January transfer window and underperformed so they might be obliged to hold a fire sale.
Chivas moves titillate Liga MX fans
Despite their payroll issues, the Chivas sparked rumors that they were trying to repatriate Erick Gutiérrez. The former Pachuca star has not excelled during his two years with PSV Eindhoven. “Guti” might prefer playing at home, thinking he might get more of an opportunity to impress El Tri coach Gerardo Martino. However, after PSV brought in a new coach, “Guti” decided to remain in the Eredivisie.
So, the Chivas extended home-grown midfield playmaker Eduardo “Chofis” López and re-hired forward Ángel Zaldívar as a hedge against the departure of 20-year-old striker J.J. Macías who could be sold to a European club to help relieve the financial stress.
The Chivas would love to acquire Monterrey defender César Montes, but Spain’s Valencia is taking a close look at the youngster. Guadalajara already has a surplus of back-liners – Antonio Briseño, Alexis Peña, Hiram Mier and José Madueña. Peña and Madueña – both acquired in December – could be sold off and Briseño might be shipped out too.
Necaxa is asking about Madueña and Briseño, as well as goalie Raúl Gudiño.
One player on Guadalajara’s wish list was Morelia skipper Aldo Rocha who has anchored the Monarcas midfield the past two seasons. The León native is out of contract this summer and he was being recruited by América, the Chivas and the Pumas. The Chivas were dangling midfield bulldog José Juan Vázquez as trade bait as “El Gallito” is unhappy with his lack of playing time since returning to Guadalajara for the Clausura 2020.
Though the swap might have seemed appealing to the new team in Sinaloa, reports over the weekend suggested that Rocha had traveled to Mazatlán.
canceled its soccer season</a>. Now as European leagues begin finishing up their suspended campaigns, the Liga MX is preparing to re-open training camps and prepare for the Apertura 2020.</p>
<p>League officials announced July 24 as the target date for kickoff and players are in the process of reporting to team facilities for Covid-19 tests. Already, more than 40 players and staff have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, including 15 players with Santos Laguna who tested positive in mid-May.</p>
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<p>In addition to health concerns, clubs must also deal with the impact of loss of revenue. The fiscal pinch of the pandemic suggests there won’t be many big-money signings and it will surely affect how teams formulate their roster for the Apertura.</p>
<p>The devaluation of the peso as a result of the economic crisis also poses a big problem since many contracts are made out in dollars. That will change moving forward after league owners voted to mandate that contracts will be based on the Mexican currency.</p>
<p>During the upcoming transfer window, teams are likely to be sellers rather than buyers. The Chivas for example, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://playingfor90.com/2020/01/29/super-chivas-stumble-suffer-stunning-exit-copa/">spent freely in the December/January transfer window and underperformed</a> so they might be obliged to hold a fire sale.</p>
<h2>Chivas moves titillate Liga MX fans</h2>
<p>Despite their payroll issues, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://playingfor90.com/2020/04/16/el-flaco-tena-state-chivas-break/">the Chivas</a> sparked rumors that they were trying to repatriate <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c7842dab/Erick-Gutierrez?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Erick Gutiérrez</a>. The former Pachuca star has not excelled during his two years with PSV Eindhoven. “Guti” might prefer playing at home, thinking he might get more of an opportunity to impress El Tri coach Gerardo Martino. However, after PSV brought in a new coach, “Guti” decided to remain in the Eredivisie.</p>
<p>So, the Chivas extended home-grown midfield playmaker Eduardo “Chofis” López and re-hired forward <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/296ecfcb/Angel-Zaldivar?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ángel Zaldívar</a> as a hedge against the departure of 20-year-old striker J.J. Macías who could be sold to a European club to help relieve the financial stress.</p>
<p>The Chivas would love to acquire Monterrey defender <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/28e957d7/Cesar-Montes?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">César Montes</a>, but Spain’s Valencia is taking a close look at the youngster. Guadalajara already has a surplus of back-liners – <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/cb52d28d/Antonio-Briseno?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Antonio Briseño</a>, Alexis Peña, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/1f81fd9b/Hiram-Mier?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hiram Mier</a> and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/f8949b73/Jose-Maduena?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">José Madueña</a>. Peña and Madueña – both acquired in December – could be sold off and Briseño might be shipped out too.</p>
<p>Necaxa is asking about Madueña and Briseño, as well as goalie <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/2f061b36/Raul-Gudino?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Raúl Gudiño</a>.</p>
<p>One player on Guadalajara’s wish list was Morelia skipper <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/2b757c6a/Aldo-Rocha?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Aldo Rocha</a> who has anchored the Monarcas midfield the past two seasons. The León native is out of contract this summer and he was being recruited by América, the Chivas and the Pumas. The Chivas were dangling midfield bulldog <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/35fd6633/Jose-Juan-Vazquez?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">José Juan Vázquez</a> as trade bait as “El Gallito” is unhappy with his lack of playing time since returning to Guadalajara for the Clausura 2020.</p>
<p>Though the swap might have seemed appealing to the new team in Sinaloa, reports over the weekend suggested that Rocha had traveled to Mazatlán.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Regiomontano roster shuffles </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-482098 size-large" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1203449663-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Maxi Meza, Monterrey (Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Two northern giants forced to confront bloated payrolls</h3>
<p>Two teams facing similar problems to the Chivas are the Rayados and the Tigres. The Monterrey-based clubs have boasted huge payrolls in Liga MX for several seasons. The Rayados were No. 1 heading into the Clausura with wage packages exceeding 74 million pesos.</p>
<p>The Rayados boasted four of the 10 highest-paid players in Liga MX heading into the Clausura 2020 – Maxi Meza-$10.5 million; <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/bf9a2406/Rogelio-Funes-Mori?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Rogelio Funes Mori</a>-$8.5 million; <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/31dce0c8/Vincent-Janssen?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Vincent Janssen</a>-$8.5 million; and Carlos Rodríguez-$8 million. The first three seem secure in their positions, but Charlie Rodríguez could be sent to Europe for a tidy profit.</p>
<p>Monterrey worked hard to acquire forward Ake Loba from Querétaro in January, outbidding Cruz Azul. Now, the Rayados seem ready to sell off the 22-year-old Ivorian with the Pumas, Necaxa and Atlas all eager to make a bid.</p>
<p>Monterrey has already dumped veteran goalie <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/868c0f75/Marcelo-Barovero?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marcelo Barovero</a> and left fullback <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c71a187b/Leonel-Vangioni?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Leonel Vangioni</a>. Long-time defender <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d6696790/Jose-Maria-Basanta?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">José María Basanta</a> also announced his departure, revealing that he’ll be going home to Argentina to play another season or two before retiring.</p>
<p>Crosstown rivals Tigres is also looking to pare payroll and three veterans on the block are midfielder <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=19ae4d5c,0343e5b1&search=Rafael+Carioca&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Rafael Carioca</a>, Team Mexico fullback Luis “Chaka” Rodríguez and striker <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/fb485406/Enner-Valencia?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enner Valencia</a> who has struggled to produce alongside <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/585e1b85/Andre-Pierre-Gignac?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">André-Pierre Gignac</a>.</p>
<p>Two of their players – <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/64c07ae1/Carlos-Salcedo?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Carlos Salcedo</a> and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/faec2ec4/Guido-Pizarro?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Guido Pizarro</a> – are among the 10 highest-paid players in the league at $8 million and they might be seen as excess baggage. Salcedo, a 26-year-old defender, is of interest to Marseille, but the 30-year-old Pizarro might be harder to move.</p>
<p>The Tigres also had to decide what to do with their loaners – Leo Fernández, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/656f6c17/Jefferson-Intriago?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jefferson Intriago</a> and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/8abefbcf/Jeison-Lucumi?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jeison Lucumí</a>. Fernández – a flashy 21-year-old – was on the verge of re-upping with Toluca for another six months, but is <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/futbol/leonardo-fernandez-definido-futuro-debe-volver-tigres.html">now set to report to the Tigres camp</a>.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> América looks to reload </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-482096 size-large" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1210890911-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Federico Viñas, America (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Aguilas prepare to chase another Liga MX title</h3>
<p>Another free-spending Liga MX franchise – América – appears to have weathered the pandemic storm rather well. A large part of that comes from their profitable academy system as the Aguilas have been producing quality youngsters. Last year alone, the club sent <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/bf12926c/Diego-Lainez?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Diego Lainez</a> and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/8b3ab7ad/Edson-Alvarez?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Edson Álvarez</a> to Europe.</p>
<p>This month, América sold 20-year-old José <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/93cdc601/Angel-Lopez?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ángel López</a> to FC Juárez. The Veracruz native scored on his debut with the Aguilas last year, earning a tie against Pachuca.</p>
<p>This success allows América to maintain a healthy payroll (last season the Aguilas boasted the third-highest in Liga MX). This week, the club signed 21-year-old striker <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"http://Advantage Tottenham in the race for Champions League">Federico Viñas</a> to a 4-year contract. He joined the Mexico City giants on a 1-year loan agreement last August and helped “Los Azul-Cremas” to the Apertura 2019 Finals. The opportunistic striker scored 8 times in 15 games for América and his permanent transfer will make coach Miguel Herrera a very happy man (especially as “El Piojo” signed his own 4-year extension a few days earlier).</p>
<p>The Aguilas also have their eyes on 36-year-old <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/12d979de/Rubens-Sambueza?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Rubens Sambueza</a> (midfielder) and Toluca’s winger <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/5f956fcf/Felipe-Pardo?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Felipe Pardo</a> to flesh out their line-up, an indication that their accounts are healthy</p>
<p>Reports have also leaked that the Aguilas are whispering to Real Madrid over 22-year-old Paraguayan forward <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/877d1631/Sergio-Diaz?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sergio Díaz</a>. The kid is on loan to Cerro Porteño in his home country and América scouts have been to South America to watch him play.</p>
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<p>The Aguilas might also consider trying to resuscitate <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/17/liga-mx-clubs-july-recommencement/"https://fbref.com/en/players/67dfb898/Victor-Guzman?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Víctor Guzmán</a>’s career. The young midfielder who starred with Pachuca in 2019 seemed destined to reach Europe but that career path was sidetracked when he was suspended after a doping scandal that saw him miss the Clausura 2020. “El Pocho” also earned a reputation as a prima donna, after rumors of heavy partying and missed practices with the Tuzos last year.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">