Guardado says instinct and a shot at redemption pulled him away from MLS and to LaLiga

Andrés Guardado has long been one of the defining figures of modern Mexican soccer — both with El Tri and across a standout club career in Europe. For years, the “Little Prince” delivered a level of consistency and leadership that cemented him as one of the best to ever wear Mexico’s colors.

But according to Guardado, his career almost took a very different turn.

In a recent conversation with Mario Suárez, Guardado revealed he was this close to joining LAFC before a last‑minute call from Real Betis changed everything.

A done deal with LAFC — until Betis called

Guardado explained that as he was preparing to leave PSV Eindhoven, LAFC had already locked in his arrival. The club — then an MLS expansion team — wanted to pair him with Carlos Vela and build a strong Mexican core in Los Angeles. The offer was excellent, and Guardado admitted he was fully committed to making the move.

“I was all set with LAFC, and then Betis appeared,” he told Suárez. “Nobody convinced me — it was instinct. And Vela was killing it at LAFC. It was their first year, they wanted Mexican players in L.A., and things were going great for me at PSV. It was a very good offer.”

But then came the call that shifted everything.

The agent’s nudge that changed his path

Guardado said his agent urged him to at least take Betis’ call, even though he reminded him they already had an agreement with LAFC.

“My agent calls and says, ‘Betis reached out — they want to talk to you.’ I told him we already had a deal with LAFC, but he insisted I take the call,” Guardado recalled.

That conversation reopened a door Guardado thought had closed.

A personal challenge: unfinished business in Spain

Ultimately, Guardado chose Betis for a deeply personal reason. His previous stint in LaLiga with Valencia had been disappointing, and the chance to return at age 30 felt like an opportunity for redemption.

“Inside, something told me, ‘Spanish league again.’ I still had that thorn from Valencia — things didn’t go well there. Going back to LaLiga at 30 motivated me,” he said.

The decision paid off. Guardado went on to become a respected leader and fan favorite at Betis, carving out one of the most meaningful chapters of his career.

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