Chicharito denies having an agreement to return to Chivas

Rumors surrounding Javier Hernández’s future have been increasing in recent days. The one which provoked the biggest reaction concerns the possibility of him returning to Chivas, to see out the last days of his playing career at the club where it all started for him. On Tuesday, Chicharito came out to give his own version of what is happening in his professional life right now.

“The streaming’s over”

Speculation had reached new levels on Monday night, when André-Pierre Gignac let slip an indiscretion during a streaming interview on Twitch in which Chicharito was a guest alongside Oribe Peralta. The Tigres’ French forward told Javier Hernández, “Now that you are returning to Chivas, you are going to play against me!” The comment clearly made the Mexican uncomfortable - jokingly, he asked to stop the interview, but the cat was already out of the bag with fans immediately taking to social media to give their reaction.

Hours later, Chicharito published a message on his Instagram account to deny that he has deal in place to return to Chivas. “Today, I am not close to joining any club, anywhere in the world yet. I am continuing my recovery from my knee injury, which is going well. Have a nice day. I love you,” he wrote Tuesday.

With those words, he rejected claims that he could be on his way back to Guadalajara. In recent days, it was rumored that Chivas sports director Fernando Hierro had already begun conversations with the striker, to try to convince him to return in 2024 - in which he would be part of the team competing for the Liga MX title and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Knee bother

Javier Hernández is currently a free agent. His contract with the Galaxy ends on 31 December and he will not renew it to remain in MLS. Returning to Chivas is a possibility - if both parties can agree on the issue of his salary. The major doubt right now is that the 35-year-old is in rehabilitation after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee, for which he underwent surgery back in June.

So for now, the Mexican player’s future is still undecided although it will be become clearer in the coming weeks. Before the year is out, we will know whether the so-called prodigal son will return or simply remain, once again a simple illusion for millions of red-and-white fans who dream of seeing the top scorer in the history of the national team end his playing days with the Rebaño Sagrado.

Chicharito Hernández made his top flight debut with Chivas in October 2006, scoring the team’s last goal in the 4-0 win. It was the first of eight appearances he made that season. In the following season, he played 10 games in the Apertura 2008, mostly as a sub and without finding the net. But his numbers would soon increase - in 2008-9, he finished with seven goals and two assists in 31 appearances, and in 2009, he was the team’s third joint-top scorer. His overall figures with Guadalajara are 77 games, 29 goals and 11 assist. He was part of the team that won the Liga MX title in 2006.