Former Chivas USA president Jorge Vergara was very clear in his assessment of the recently terminated project of bringing the Chivas brand to MLS.
“The Chivas USA concept did not work out,” he explained in a radio interview with Jorge Ramos y Su Banda, following the news Thursday that the league has purchased the team from the Mexican magnate.
And while MLS will now assume control of the franchise as the search for a new owner progresses, Vergara, for his part, is solely focused on improving the fortunes of his club south of the border, Chivas Guadalajara.
“There is only one Chivas. We want to concentrate in investing in Chivas Guadalajara,” he explained. “I am convinced of soccer in the United States and of MLS. But we have to strengthen Chivas Guadalajara and leave [Chivas USA] in very good hands.”
One of the most immediate issues that both parties will have to deal with is the presence of Guadalajara-affiliated players on the Chivas USA roster. Currently, forward Erick “Cubo” Torres – the team’s top goalscorer in 2013 with seven goals since joining in July 2013 – is the only player on loan from the Mexican side to Chivas USA, and Vergara said he would be on his way back to Guadalajara once his loan expires.
“His contract ends in June, at which time he will return to Chivas Guadalajara,” Vergara confirmed.
- Get more Chivas USA news and notes at CDChivasUSA.com
One other player whose future has been brought into question following the sale is recently signed forward Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista, who has close ties to the Guadalajara side after playing for them from 2004-07 and 2010-11.
Vergara said in the radio interview that Bautista would return to Guadalajara along with Torres in June, but a Chivas USA spokesperson confirmed to FutbolMLS.com that Bautista was signed with the team on a permanent deal. An MLS spokesperson also confirmed to MLSsoccer.com that Bautista was signed as a free agent, and was not loaned to MLS.
This article originally appeared in Spanish on FutbolMLS.com.
