Guadalajara wants to regain prominence and presents its new reinforcements

The goal is the championship, they say
Guadalajara wants to regain prominence and presents its new reinforcements
▲ Diego Campillo, Efraín Álvarez, Javier Mier (sports director), Bryan González, and Richard Ledezma, yesterday during the presentation. Photo @Chivas
Karla Torrijos
La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, July 18, 2025, p. a11
With the mission of regaining prominence in Mexican soccer, Chivas yesterday presented its four reinforcements for the current Apertura 2025 tournament: Efraín Álvarez, Diego Campillo, Richard Ledezma and Bryan González, who assured that their main objective is to be crowned champions with the red and white team, currently managed by Argentine Gabriel Milito.
During the presentation, held at Akron Stadium and broadcast on the Guadalajara club's social media, sporting director Javier Mier stated, "We want to have a team that's a leader and balanced, and these four players fit the profile we're looking for.
“We want players who want to come to Chivas, who are committed and know what it means to wear this jersey, because not just anyone can do it.
We know where we're going. We want to establish solid foundations, always strive for the top, but take it step by step. The important thing is for the crest to shine; our responsibility is to contribute to strengthening the club's greatness.
For his part, Mexican-American Álvarez, a youth player for the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) and who joined Guadalajara from Xolos de Tijuana, commented: "I'm very happy to be here. Since I was a child, my father was a Chivista, and my dream was to play for this team. That first dream has already been achieved; now we're going for the second, which is the championship
."
At the time, Ledezma, also a Mexican and American national, who played for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands League, both in the first team and in the lower categories, said: "I've wanted to wear this shirt since I was little. It's a very beautiful thing for me and my family; we want to achieve many things with this squad. I had no doubts when they called me. We're going to go for the 13th (star) this year and we're going to give it our all
."
The Rojiblanco youth player, Campillo, who returned to the team after two years with FC Juárez, expressed his confidence in the new coaching staff. "I'm committed; I believe in the project. We have a squad that can compete with anyone. It's a very complete team that will fight for everything, and we'll prove it on the field
."
In turn, González, who joined the Guadalajara team from Pachuca, believed the current squad has the potential to be a protagonist in the tournament once again. "I know what the club is looking for and what I want to contribute. I come with that desire and hunger to be a champion at Chivas, to put the team back in the top spots
."
After postponing its matchday one match against Tigres due to renovations at Akron Stadium, one of the venues for the 2026 World Cup, Guadalajara will debut in the tournament this Saturday when it visits León at the Nou Camp in a matchday two match.
On the other hand, the president of Liga MX, Mikel Arriola, confirmed that the organization is valued at $13 billion, according to a calculation made last year by the American investment fund Apollo Global Management, which was interested in participating in Mexican soccer; however, the transaction fell through due to a lack of agreement between the team owners.
The fact that an investment fund valued us a few months ago at approximately $13 billion is not without reason; it is the result of the owners' efforts and the corporate and transparency reforms, as well as the commitment to internationalization
, said the leader yesterday at the presentation of the new owners of Querétaro, headed by American businessman Marc Spiegel.
He also indicated that the sale of Gallos Blancos for $120 million (according to various reports) is a sign of the growing interest in Mexican soccer in international markets.
Visiting fans return to the Argentine league after a 12-year ban.
Ap
La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, July 18, 2025, p. a11
Buenos Aires, Argentina, The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced yesterday an ambitious plan for the gradual return of visiting fans to local league matches, marking 12 years since a restriction that unsuccessfully sought to end stadium violence.
Claudio Tapia, president of the club, said in a press conference that the kickoff will take place this Saturday when Lanús hosts Rosario Central for the second matchday of the First Division Clausura tournament.
"It's a day that marks a turning point in our football
," Tapia emphasized. "It's the type of football (on the road) we all grew accustomed to as kids. We have to get back to that path
."
The leader clarified that the return of visitors will be gradual and will not be mandatory: Clubs that are able and want to welcome visiting fans will be able to do so
.
The choice of Lanús-Rosario Central as a pilot test match wasn't a random one. The ban on visiting fans in the First Division tournament was implemented in 2013 after the murder of a Garnet
fan while police were trying to break up a confrontation with Estudiantes fans.
Buenos Aires security authorities imposed the ban, which was later followed by the rest of the districts. While the measure sought to end stadium violence, it failed to achieve its goal, as more deaths subsequently occurred in the context of internal disputes among the so-called barrabravas .
Meanwhile, Saturday's match will mark the first away match for Ángel di María, a Central winger and key player for the Argentine national team that won the World Cup in Qatar 2022. He returned to the country after nearly two decades in Europe.
The AFA announced that 6,500 Rosario fans will be able to occupy the Lanús away section under a strict security protocol, which includes designated tickets so that fans attending are properly identified.
The idea isn't to go back to what we had before, because there's a reason visitors were sent away
, emphasized Buenos Aires Security Minister Javier Alonso. We have to banish the culture of violence. It's sad to see 10-year-olds singing about drugs or that someone needs to be killed. It has to be a family celebration, with flags and drums
.
For the time being, the measure will apply to Buenos Aires, although Tapia revealed that other provinces have expressed a willingness to join.
The plan, however, has raised questions. Opposition groups to the current government have warned that police officers cannot be assigned to guard visiting fans, to the detriment of citizens concerned about a growing wave of insecurity.
The highest-paid defensive player

▲ Photo Ap
Ap
La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, July 18, 2025, p. a11
The Pittsburgh Steelers made star defensive end TJ Watt the highest-paid player in the NFL after reaching an agreement that will keep him with the team. The 30-year-old Watt, who is set to enter the final season of his four-year extension in 2021, is scheduled to earn $123 million over the course of a three-year deal, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
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