|
CANCUN, Mexico - Luis Perez, who helped Monterrey to three Mexican league titles and the past two CONCACAF Champions League crowns, will return to the confederation club championship - but with Chivas de Guadalajara.
The 31-year-old midfielder, who had played with Monterrey since 2003 after beginning his career four years earlier with Necaxa, has been a member of the Mexican national team since 1998. Chivas' acquisition of Perez and Rafael Marquez Lugo on Wednesday were the highlight of the Mexican league "draft" meetings along the Riveria Maya resort.
Chivas will face Xelaju of Guatemala and the Caribbean club championship runner-up in Group 8 of the Champions League, while Monterrey will begin defense of its confederation crown against Chorrillo of Panama and Municipal of Guatemala.
Perez, who was a member of Mexico's 2006 World Cup team, is currently training with El Tri as it prepares for its 2014 World Cup qualifying opener against Guyana on Friday.
Besides transferring Perez, Monterrey's other major moves during the draft meetings were to loan Othoniel Arce to Leon and Marvin Pinon to Queretaro.
Meanwhile, Chivas, which has a new coach in Dutchman John Van't Schip, transferred forward Alberto Media to Pachuca and Johnny Magallon to the new promoted Leon.
Other major transactions included Champions League qualifier Tigres selling Chilean striker Hector Mancilla to Atlas and the acquisition of midfielder Rene Zamora from Atlas, and Mexican under-20 forward Taufic Guarch from Estudiantes Tecos.
Champions League runner-up Santos Laguna also bolstered its Mexican league champion side with the purchases of midfielder Gerardo Lugo from Morelia, and left back Osvaldo Alanis and forward Walter Sandoval from Estudiantes.
In exchange, "Los Guerreros" sent to Morelia five players: selling Carlos Morales, Antonio Olvera, Uriel Alvarez along with the loans of Carlos Ochoa and Francisco Torres.
