Cruz Azul’s Ignacio Rivero granted compassionate leave

There was some sad news at Cruz Azul this week as it emerged that Alicia Beatriz Sagade Gómez, the mother of Uruguayan midfielder, Ignacio Rivero, passed away on Thursday. The Liga MX club announced the news with a brief statement on its social media networks: “We are very sorry to hear about the passing of Alicia Beatriz Segade Gómez, mother of our captain, Ignacio Rivero. We express our deepest condolences and best wishes to family and friends. Rest in Peace”.

Leave granted for personal reasons

The player has yet to make any comment regarding his loss but he will fly home to Uruguay for the funeral and to be with his family. While he is on compassionate leave, Rivero will be unavailable to coach Martin Anselmi. The 31-year-old midfielder will not participate in Saturday’s game against Atlético San Luis, corresponding to matchday 6 of the Clausura 2024 and could also miss the following weekend’s game against Tigres - both at the Ciudad de los Deportes.

Rivero joined the Cementeros on loan from Tijuana ahead of the Guard1anes 2020 tournament. He was a champion with the light blues in the 2021 Clausura - the first of three trophies he has won during his time at the club. He started out with Central Español in Uruguay, before crossing the border to Argentina to play for Defensa y Justicia in 2015. His first taste of the Liga MX came a couple of years later in 2017 when he signed a $600,000 deal with the Xolos. His excellent performances and versatility with the border team caught the eye of Cruz Azul where he is now an idol with fans.

This season, Nacho has played a total of 448 minutes in the Clausura 2024, starting all of the five games played so far and scoring one goal - against Querétaro in last weekend’s 1-3 win. He has played in numerous positions during his time with the Cementeros - he is usually deployed as a left-sided midfielder but has switched to both full-back positions and central defence when required.