Tag Archives: Tigres UANL

River Plate’s Héctor David Martínez Joins Inter Miami CF on One-Year Loan

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Héctor David Martínez is headed to South Florida.

Inter Miami CF has signed the 26-year-old Argentine professional footballer and River Plate defender ahead of the 2024 Leagues Cup, including him in the official roster for the competition.

Héctor David Martínez,He joins the team on a one-year loan from the Argentine side until July 2025, with an option to make the transfer permanent at the conclusion of the spell.

Martínez joins after making just five appearances in all competitions for the Argentinian giants, racking up 182 minutes of action.

“I’m really happy and excited to join Inter Miami. I was thrilled about the opportunity to come here. Finally, it’s happened, and I’m really happy to get this new chapter in my career started,” said Martínez.

“The goal here is to help the team, keep growing, and hopefully, win some titles.”

The centerback kicked off a professional career with River Plate, working his way through the youth system before debuting in the first-team under Marcelo Gallardo in December 2018.

The player also saw time with Defensa y Justicia, recording two goals in over a year before returning to River Plate initially on loan and then permanently.

Internationally, he’s appeared for the Paraguay national team on 11 occasions.

Now, he is set to play a starting role alongside Inter Miami defenders Jordi Alba, Tomás Avilés and Marcelo Weigandt given the team’s current injuries to the backline. Key centerback Serhiy Kryvtsov picked up an ankle injury during the match against Toronto on July 17, forcing head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino to play midfielder Sergio Busquets in that position for the time being.

The former Barcelona player can now be expected to return to his normal placement as Martínez joins the team.

Reigning champion Inter Miami kicks off the 2024 edition of Leagues Cup on Saturday when hosting Puebla at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Unlike last year, the Herons enter the competition in a great position as leaders of the MLS Eastern Conference with 53 points in 25 games.

The team will then face Tigres UANL at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, in the hope of advancing to the knockout round.

Aitana Bonmatí Wins FIFA’s The Best Women’s Award

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Aitana Bonmatí has cemented her status as the best women’s footballer…

The 25-year-old Spanish soccer player, a Barcelona and Spain midfielder has claimed FIFA‘s The Best women’s award to go alongside her Ballon d’Or Féminin title.

Aitana Bonmatí Bonmatí enjoyed a record-breaking season with club country in which she helped Barça win Liga F amid a two-year unbeaten run that ended on the last day of the season, followed by leading Spain to win their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup title.

She was named Player of the Tournament in Australia and New Zealand, as well as being crowned UEFA Women’s Player of the Year.

“It’s been an incredible and unique year that I will remember for the rest of my life,” Bonmati said on the stage in London. “I owe this to the teams that I play with: Barcelona and the national team.

“Without my teammates I would not be here picking up these awards. I will always be thankful to those who have not failed me — my family and my friends.

“I want to congratulate all the nominees and say that I am proud of being part of a powerful generation of women who are changing the rules of the game.”

The other two nominees shortlisted for Monday’s award were Real Madrid‘s Linda Caicedo, who had an outstanding World Cup with Colombia, and Tigres UANL‘s Jenni Hermoso, who played with Bonmatí for Spain and kick-started a MeToo movement in the country over the behavior of federation president Luis Rubiales.

Bonmatí’s award continues Barça’s hold over the women’s prize, with midfielder Alexia Putellas having won the award in 2021 and 2022, although she has made just a handful appearances in the past 12 months due to an ACL injury.

The timeline for the award was between December 19, 2022 and August 20, 2023 — the day of the Women’s World Cup final.

The three nominees for the award were compiled, FIFA said, in collaboration with its “football stakeholders,” with shortlists determined by two separate panels of former players and coaches. The winner of the award was then voted between journalists, fans, national team captains and managers.

Earlier in Monday’s ceremony, Lionel Messi won his third FIFA the Best men’s award.

Here’s the full list of women’s awards winners:

FIFA’s The Best women’s Award: Aitana Bonmatí 
Women’s Coach of the Year: Sarina Wiegman
Goalkeeper of the Year: Mary Earps (Man United)

Women’s World XI:

Goalkeeper: Earps (Man United)
Defence: Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Alex Greenwood (Man City)
Midfield: Keira Walsh (Man City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Lauren James (Chelsea), Ella Toone (Man United), Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)
Attack: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

Lucas Zelarayan Signs New Three-Year Contract with Columbus Crew

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Lucas Zelarayan isn’t leaving his Crew…

The Columbus Crew have signed the 29-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder to a new three-year contract that will keep him with the team through at least 2024.

Lucas ZelarayanThe Designated Player deal also contains a club option for 2025.

Zelarayan spent the last two seasons with the Crew, leading Columbus to the 2020 MLS Cup title — a match in which he was named MVP — and winning that season’s Newcomer of the Year award.

In 53 appearances across all competitions, he scored 21 goals and added 19 assists.

“Over the past two seasons Lucas has proven himself to be one of the top game-changers in MLS and we are excited to sign him to a new contract,” Crew general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement. “Lucas has proven that he can perform under pressure, and he shines time and time again when the spotlight is brightest. We look forward to seeing what else Lucas and the team can achieve together in 2022 and beyond.”

A native of Cordoba, Argentina, Zelarayan rose through the ranks of Belgrano‘s academy all the way to the first team, making his debut as a 19-year-old in 2012. He went on to make 81 league and cup appearances, scoring 10 goals.

In 2016, Zelarayan moved to Liga MX side Tigres UANL. He went on to make 140 league and cup appearances, scoring 23 goals, and leading Tigres to three Liga MX crowns and three Campeon de Campeones titles.

At the international level, Zelarayan qualified for Armenian citizenship through his father, and has earned four caps for the Armenia national team, making his debut in October of 2021 against Iceland in a UEFA group-stage match for FIFA World Cup qualification.

Jurgen Damm Reportedly Headed to Atlanta United This Summer

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Jurgen Damm is set to play Major League Soccer…

The 27-year-old Mexican winger is set to leave Tigres UANL for Atlanta United this summer on a free transfer after running down his contract, according to ESPN.

Jurgen Damm

Multiple outlets in Mexico have reportedDamm’s imminent departure, with MedioTiempo suggestingDamm’s contract with the MLSclub will be three-and-a-half years.

Damm has made over 200 appearances in Liga MX, but has found regular playing time difficult of late with Tigres, partly due to injury, and has opted for a change of scenery. Damm has won four Liga MX titles in his time at Tigres and has 12 caps for the Mexico national team.

“After consulting with my family, the best thing for me is to take a different direction in June and there’s nothing but thanks towards this institution [Tigres],” said Damm in a press conference on Tuesday. “I’ll fulfill my contract, I tried to give my best, I always tried to be professional, but what you look for is more continuity. [Tigres] gave me opportunities and I didn’t make the most of them.”

“I’m not going to say where [I’m going], I’m not going to speak more, I told the directors that I won’t renew,” he added. “It’s not an economic issue. I never asked for more money.”

Damm was on the verge of tears when making the announcement, having joined Tigres from Pachucain 2015. The player, who has a German passport, was regularly linked with a move to Europe.

Tigres president Miguel Angel Garza had stated on Monday that the club intended to renew Damm’s contract and that the player was open to the idea.Damm was free to talk to clubs six months before his contract was up and will leave Tigres after the 2020 Clausura season.