'Under contract' - León coach Eduardo Berizzo says Colombian James Rodríguez 'most likely continue with the club' after quarterfinal elimination

After León’s elimination in the Clausura 2025 quarterfinals at the hands of Cruz Azul, head coach Eduardo Berizzo confirmed that James Rodríguez is still under contract and "most likely" will remain with the club, despite the team being expelled from the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.

As for Andrés Guardado, who came out of retirement this season specifically to play in the international tournament, Berizzo admitted he’s unsure about the veteran’s future. La Fiera were knocked out of the Liga MX playoffs with a 5-3 aggregate loss to Cruz Azul, wrapping up the series at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

"Andrés will need to decide what comes next. If today was his final match, I’m just thankful to have had the opportunity to coach a world-class player. If this was his last game, I’m grateful - players like him make you a better coach. James is under contract and will most likely continue with the club," Berizzo said.

After a brilliant start to the Clausura 2025, during which they reached the top of the table, León's season unraveled following their expulsion from the FIFA Club World Cup due to a breach of the league’s multi-club ownership regulations. The development triggered a sharp decline in form.

La Fiera ended the regular season with five losses in their final seven matches, dropping them to sixth place in the standings. The downward trend continued into the playoffs, where they had back-to-back defeats in the quarterfinals, closing out a forgettable second half of the campaign.

With their World Cup hopes dashed, Berizzo’s side - including high-profile names like Rodríguez and Guardado - are now in offseason mode. It remains uncertain whether either player will continue with the club. All signs point to Guardado having played the final match of his professional career, while James, disappointed by missing out on the Club World Cup, may now be looking for a fresh start elsewhere.

Berizzo declined to dwell on how León’s exclusion from the Club World Cup might have affected the team.

"I couldn't say for sure, and it would sound like an excuse for the loss," he said. "The series was decided in the penalty areas - Cruz Azul were clinical, and we weren’t able to convert our chances. I don’t know if the impact was emotional. It was definitely bad news, but I don’t think the football explanation lies there."

Los Esmeraldas will kick off their Leagues Cup campaign on July 29 against CF Montréal. They will then face NYCFC and Columbus Crew in the group stage of the tournament.