LIGA MX
‘Chicote’ Calderón says he’ll do his talking out on the pitch
América’s new signing joins from one of the club’s fiercest rivals, but the player insists that he will let his football answer the critics.
Cristian Calderón is now on board with Mexican champions América, joining from one of the club’s staunchest rivals, Chivas. The player knows how the move might be perceived by some but prefers to remain silent and do his talking out on the field of play when the Clausura 2024 kicks off next weekend.
“There’s been a lot of talk about my arrival but I prefer to demonstrate what I do on the field and not say anything,” Chicote Calderón said in an exclusive interview with his new employers at the Coapa facilities.
The 26-year-old wing-back spent the last three years with Chivas but believes that he has joined the most successful club of the professional era in Mexico and that in itself motivates him to give his best. “Coming here is very exciting for me. It makes me believe that I can achieve something special. There is a lot of talk about me, about my past, my previous club and today I can say that this is a challenge for me and I am going to do my best. I am looking at myself day by day and obviously in the long term, I see myself lifting the championship,” he added.
Ready for the challenge
Calderón also gave details about how he approached América after being released by Chivas, and confirmed that he took it as a challenge to sign for newly-crowned champions.
“When they put the idea to me, I liked what was being proposed. They told me that I would be taking a gamble but I replied that I enjoy a challenge. I have to grasp this opportunity and I’m going to do just that. Of course I am very happy to be here, who wouldn’t? I think in the end, joining a big club like América is something to feel pleased about - it motivates you and makes you feel like you can achieve many things and that’s why I’m here. I’m here to demonstrate what I can do. It is a challenge and a privilege to be here,” he concluded.
Just after Christmas, Chivas decided against renewing Calderón’s contract - partly for discipline issues that saw the player briedly suspended at the same time as his team mate, Alexis Vega.