Efrain Juarez rejected the chance to stay in Europe because the chance to join Club América was too good to turn down.

“I had offers to remain in Europe, good offers from important teams,” Juarez told reporters in Mexico City airport. “I´m coming back to América because of the great project it has. Its ambition attracted me.”

Juarez joins las Aguilas from Glasgow Celtic after a nightmare six months.  His loan spell with Real Zaragoza was cut short when the La Liga team wanted to bring in further foreign reinforcements in January and then the 24-year-old right back/defensive midfielder  found playing time hard to come by on his return to Scotland.

The player is not thinking about a European return, for now, instead focusing on América´s quest for its first league title since the Clausura 2005.

Juarez came through the youth system at América´s bitter rivals Pumas, something that will likely tarnish his reputation in the eyes of fans of the university team. Not that he is too concerned.

“I´m not the first and I won´t be the last,” he said. “I´m coming to give my all as I have done for all the teams I´ve had the opportunity to represent.”

Across Mexico City, Cruz Azul is said to have signed 30-year-old Argentine striker Mariano Pavone from Lanus. “El Tanque” has an excellent scoring record in Argentina and could be the first of three signings for the club in coming weeks.

By Tom Marshall (@MexicoWorldCup)