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Mexican Mercado: Return of Romano
Rather than giving in to speculation and perpetuating rumors, this is an up-to-date summary of the confirmed transfer movements in the Mexican Primera División.
Dec 11, 2008 5:07:16 PM
The Return
Recently appointed Puebla coach, Rubén Omar Romano, qualified his new post as a career challenge since the Camoteros are dangerously compromised with relegation problems.
Romano recently managed Atlas and América with little success. Despite a negative streak of 21 matches without a victory and no title to his name, he is still regarded as one of the most prestigious and respected coaches in Mexican football.
End Of A Process
Raúl Arias said goodbye and thanked San Luis for the uninterrupted three year process, in which he was allowed to work and grew professionally due to the needs of the team.
In that time-frame, Arias converted the Gladiadores from a relegation-bound team, to a protagonist, and serious contender for the title. Also, he took them to the final of the Clausura 2006 and they were the Superlider in the Apertura 2008.
A manager normally does not last more than a year in Mexican football, and the continuity that San Luis officials gave Arias is demonstrated by the good results of the club. Arias will now return to the Necaxa bench for the Clausura 2009.
All In The Family
After a miserable Torneo Apertura 2008, Necaxa found themselves second from the bottom in classification and in serious relegation problems heading into the following campaign.
To aid their salvation efforts, they brought on coach Raúl Arias and other familiar faces from the extended Televisa family to recover their place in Mexican football.
Germán Villa and Alfredo Moreno return to the Rayos, after they were left out of the plans of the current América coaching staff.
Also, Marco Antonio Gómez of San Luis and José Joel González of Monterrey, where presented as the new Necaxistas.
A Homie For América
After the second leg semifinal match between Santos and Toluca, youngster Edgar Castillo confirmed that he had played his last match for Santos and that he would play on América in the Clausura 2009.
This Wednesday, Santos Laguna made it official and Castillo will move on to the Águilas. There also exists the possibility that defender Fernando Ortíz will also migrate to Coapa, as part of a deal to get midfielder Juan Carlos Medina to Torreón.
Swaps
Darío Franco Gatti finally has his ideal formation for Atlas. To make that possible, the Argentine manager had to get rid of one forward to bring in a center defensive midfielder.
Paraguayan Ariel Bogado, who scored seven goals in the past campaign and was slowly becoming fan favorite, was the sacrificed forward. Bogado was traded to Tigres for Argentine-Mexican, Lucas Ayala, an officious midfielder who fits perfectly in Franco’s formation.
Both players will be on-loan for six months, but there will not be the buying option for Bogado. Also, the request of Rojinegro forward Mauricio Romero to get more playing time were met by Atlas officials, and he was completely sold to Tigres.
Forgotten
Uruguayan forward, Marcelo Guerrero, was left out of San Luis and is currently looking for a new club. The 25-year old arrived to Mexican football in 2005 and delivered many good performances, including the goal against Atlas in the last match of the Clausura 2006 which allowed San Luis to avoid relegation.
Guerrero was sidelined for most of the previous campaign from a serious shoulder injury, which prevented him from preserving a spot on the team.
Also, Gonzalo Choy was loaned to Argentine side Rosario Central for one year. The Uruguayan midfielder could not find regularity on Monterrey in the Apertura 2008 and did not fall in the plans of head coach Ricardo La Volpe. Choy previously played on Monarcas Morelia of México, and Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata, Olimpo, Quilmes and Argentinos Juniors of Argentina.
-- César García, Goal.com
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