Mexico City club Pumas UNAM is set to confirm the arrival of four experienced players as it looks to rebuild from last season´s disappointing 13th place finish.
The club was criticized by its own fans last season for not investing in the squad after losing key players like Paco Palencia, Leandro Augusto, Israel Castro and Sergio Bernal over the past 12 months.
Coach Guillermo Vazquez left the club just three weeks ago, allegedly because he felt club owners weren´t willing to back him to the extent required in the transfer market.
How that has changed.
Alberto Garcia Aspe was named sporting director and the ownership has clearly had a change of heart, siphoning funds directly from UNAM, Latin America´s largest university, to sign players. Garcia Aspe told the press he wanted Vazquez back, but Joaquin del Olmo was named new coach last Friday.
Then came the bombshell news over the last week that 30-year-old Emanuel Villa would sign from Cruz Azul. Argentine Villa is a big name in Mexico and has 82 goals in 175 first division games.
That was followed by the announcement by former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia, 33, that he would be leaving Puebla to join Pumas.
Experienced duo Martín Romagnoli and Jaime Lozano also were announced as new arrivals at CU over the past seven days.
“They are players with quality and competition for place is going to be very tough,” said Pumas defender Efrain Velarde. “The fact that there is competition makes a team grow.”
In essence, Pumas seems to have had an about-turn on policy, from previously saying new recruits would come from the youth system, to investing in an experienced core to guide the youngsters.
The new players:
Emanuel Villa
Age: 30 years old
Nationality: Argentine
Position: Striker
Previous clubs: Hurcan, Atletico Rafaela, Rosario, Atlas, Estudiantes Tecos, Derby County, Cruz Azul
Martín Romagnoli
Age: 34
Nationality: Argentine
Position: Central midfield
Previous clubs: All Boys, Badajoz, Colon, Quilmes, Racing Club, Toluca
Jaime Lozano
Age: 33
Nationality: Mexican
Position: Midfield
Previous clubs: Pumas, Celaya, Pumas, Tigres, Cruz Azul, Morelia
Luis García
Age: 33
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Forward/left wing
Previous clubs: Valladolid, Toledo, Tenerife, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Atletico Madris, Racing Santander, Panathinaikos, Puebla
By Tom Marshall (@MexicoWorldCup)
