Igor Lichnovsky, the foreign player to leave Tigres
Sports Director Antonio Sancho confirmed that Nicolás López will continue, and explained that the club has until September to reinforce the squad.
Tigres have made their decision on which foreign player will be sacrificed for the next tournament. Igor Lichnosvky has been chosen to be moved on, as confirmed by sports director, Antonio Sancho. Sancho made an urgent trip to the Riviera Maya, where the squad is currently immersed in pre-season training, to personally notify the Chilean defender that he had not entered into Robert Dante Siboldi’s plans. Lichnovsky’s departure means that Uruguayan forward Nicolás López can continue.
“The rules state that you can only register nine players, and the one who did not come through the youth system in Mexico and will not be registered is Igor. Right now, they all continue, but due to the registration limit I cannot register 10. If I can only register nine, then unfortunately Igor has to be the one who misses out. As for the rest, we feel a complete squad and we will continue in the same way as before,” Sancho explained at a press conference from the team hotel .
Sancho went on to add that, his decision was based on the belief that the team’s defence is solid and not a problem area, which meant that the Chilean defender would not be required for the new campaign. Tigres have until September to strengthen their squad further - either with another foreigner or a Mexican player.
“The conditions we have to abide by are determined by the regulations. It’s a fact that we must have nine players. We have more defensive players so we are covered are in that area. That’s why we have decided not to register Igor - otherwise, we would have to wait until mid-September to make another move, both in terms of a player coming in and another going out,” he said.
He also spoke about the most recent additions to the squad, such as goalkeeper Felipe Rodríguez and midfielder Eugenio Pizzuto - two players he sees fighting for a starting place in the side for the Apertura 2023.
“[Miguel] Ortega, has undergone surgery and we needed an experienced goalkeeper behind Nahuel, which is why we brought in Felipe. And Eugenio, he is a talented, young, Mexican player who has experience of playing in Europe - those kind of players are always welcome,” he added.
The Tigres squad is expected to return home on Thursday then travel directly to Los Angeles to prepare for the Campeón de Campeones clash against Pachuca on Sunday 25 June.