SOCCER
Chucky Lozano says Mexicans prefer to stay in their comfort zone
The PSV footballer was blunt during this international break, stating that many Aztec players do not want to take up the challenge of European leagues.
Hirving Lozano became the first Mexican to win the Italian Serie A title, as part of a highly impressive Napoli team. Now, after a successful stint in Italy, “Chucky” is returning to the club that first opened the doors of Europe for him. And Lozano acknowledges that, unlike him, most Mexican footballers find themselves in a comfort zone at home, and are unwilling to accept certain conditions when venturing into the Old Continent for the first time.
Mexicans prefer home comforts, says Lozano
In an interview with ESPN, Lozano acknowledged that when Mexican footballers make the leap to the world’s top football leagues, salaries are not typically as high, suggesting that they wouldn’t immediately join the high-spending elite clubs. However, he emphasized that this is a risk one must take if they aspire to succeed on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
“I believe that sometimes Mexican clubs set very high prices for their players. It also seems to me that many Mexicans are completely content in Mexico because when you come to Europe, you don’t earn much money, and that’s the truth. But it’s a personal challenge, and one has to strive for it,” he stated.
Chucky’s Italian job
And Lozano’s journey in Italy was indeed challenging. He explained that his time in Serie A was complex, with coaching changes at Napoli that, at one point, saw him relegated from the first team. However, he managed to win the title despite injuries and other negative situations.
“It was a very complicated path with many ups and downs,” Lozano explained. “I arrived under [Carlo] Ancelotti at Napoli, and I had him as a coach for only two months before he left the team. Gattuso arrived, and it was difficult because I had arrived as the most expensive signing. There were many things that, for me, were not very pleasant during his tenure. I spent a lot of time without playing and had a tough time for the remainder of the year.
“Then, in his second year, things went well, with many goals and assists,” Chucky continued. “I liked that year a lot. Then, Spalletti arrived, and along with it, circumstances like national team injuries that didn’t help me much. There were also doubts from the coaches.”