A post so nice it posted twice! This is OT but I always wondered about Run DMB's Gers time - there were rumours of drinking issues, but given his success in better leagues before and after - and even when he first got to Gers - it always seemed odd. But I digress... (again)
Ledezma prefers contract in Mexico to PSV offer Marco Timmer 13.20 cest, Today Richy Ledezma will leave PSV after this season on a free transfer. The back, who came to Eindhoven in 2019 as a midfielder, will work at the Mexican Deportivo Guadalajara. Ledezma has become an important force in coach Peter Bosz's selection this season. In the previous four seasons, the defender came to a total of sixteen games in the Eredivisie, this season Ledezma played 24 games in the Dutch league. In addition, the American missed only one match in the Champions League, he made eleven appearances in the elite tournament. In Eindhoven, Ledezma could sign a new contract, but he did not accept it. Instead, he returns to North America. He made his debut with the Real Monarchs from Salt Lake City in American professional football and played on loan for New York City FC in 2023. Ledezema's new employer, Deportivo Guadalajara, offered the American a four-year contract. The club played a supporting role in the last Mexican season, with two places in the middle of the table. In Mexico, Ledezma will meet former teammate Érick Gutiérrez.
Well, a major swoop for Deportivo. Quality player for zero transfer money. Guess they used that for padding his contract.
Got to think he is targeting El Tri with the move. Can’t blame him if he can break through there while probably making more money than he would in Europe and being closer to home.
The only major downside for Ledezma is that his BS thread will be moved to the obscurity of Yanks Abroad - Americas. Ouch!
Disappointing, if true. Wish he would stay at PSV or at least somewhere in Europe. To come back across the pond to a currently mediocre - albeit historic - Liga MX club is a downgrade. I’d rather have him in MLS than Chivas. Ugh.
While I wouldn't discount the lure of el Tri, that alone would explain a player with his injury history going to Mexico. He turns 25 in September and he's hot now while the Goats pay very well by North American standards. As long as he doesn't squander his money or invest it badly, he'll make bank by the end of this deal. @bshredder was suggesting that he has zero interest in playing RB after this season so if Chivas are recruiting him for their midfield, he'll likely have received assurances about starting while the path to midfield play at PSV is crowded, to say the least. On top of which, PSV are going to recruit at RB this summer anyway. If they spend real money on the new guy, Richie becomes RB depth Chivas is virtually a no-brainer.
There is no question Ledezma is at best in competition for RB with whomever they bring in (or with Dest if Bosz likes what he's seen in the Dest/Junior line-ups he's run out.) I would imagine part of the problem for Ritchie is what PSV likes most about him is his versatility/utility that will likely see him play a lot places that are not CM/10. I do wonder about he endorsement math. I admittedly know very little about liga Mx endorsement deals, or if US-Mex players are worth anything there, but I'd imagine a starting Chivas player would get more action than a non-Dutch PSV player who is not a USMNT regular.
Can't see how any USMNT player would get endorsement deals in Mexico, let alone a Mexican-American who's rejected the green shirt. Quite the opposite in fact. If there's a bookie offering a good price on him declaring for Mexico, I'd put $100 on it .
I guess Zendejas would be the benchmark. I got no idea, but given his stature, if any US player is getting endorsement money in Mx it would be him. There is a huge League MX fan base in US, so I'd assume there's some opportunity there, but really have no idea. Donovan after retirement is the only big Mex endorsement deals I ever heard about, and that's cause of the controversy. We need more Liga MX experts around here.
Actually many Mexican fans like him/his style of play, before the Mexican NT coach was rumored to try to get him to chose El Tri.
Yeah, he could certainly switch to Mex if he wanted to. The question is whether, if he's not planning a switch, does he have any significant value in endorsements etc. in the Mex or Mex-American media/community. I don't know the answer to that question. You may or may not be familiar with USMNT striker/winger Alex Zendejas, but he's a top LigaMx player with a club with a big fanbase. If there is endorsement/jersey etc. money to be gotten by a US player on a Mex team, he's getting it. I just don't pay enough attention or have enough knowledge of that world to know what it might be worth.
I like Richie as a player since watching him at Young PSV and when he leaves PSV, I wish him the best in his choices made, but without me following him, as he's relevant until not playing Eredivisie football anymore.
You've been one of his biggest supporters around here. He'll fall off a lot of people (around here's) radar if he moves, but LigaMx has a very big fan base in the US as well, more than the Ered. Will be interesting to see where that path takes him if the transfer goes through.
He didn’t need to move to Liga MX to get his El Tri passport and play for them. They want him either way.
its not very smart that liga mx move was always there for him....shoulda just tried with another euro team, first....see how that went ...then crawl back to n.america (if necessary)
1933301125475938566 is not a valid tweet id Chivas it is It might not surprise you, but his USYNT and USMNT involvement was not included in the "everything you need to know about Guadalajara 's new player" part of the announcement. But I am sure some of you might disagree with their definition of the word "everything" in this case.
Yuck. To each his own. I'm not in his shoes so I can't fault him for his decision. I just wished he would of home a new home in Europe.
I hope for his sake that he bucks the trend of dual-nats going to Liga MX and, generously, looking like they aren’t professional athletes.