LIGA MX
Is Arturo Ortiz set to leave Pumas for fellow Liga MX club Juárez?
Defender Ortiz, 31, is reportedly on the verge of moving to Juárez, having slipped down the Pumas pecking order during the Apertura 2023.
Arturo ‘Palermo’ Ortiz is set to follow Juan Ignacio Dinneno and Gabriel Fernández out of the Pumas exit door, as Los Auriazules continue to make changes to their squad in preparation for the Liga MX’s Clausura 2024 tournament.
Ortiz in line for Juárez switch
W Deportes journalist Fabrizio Domínguez reports that Ortiz, 31, is poised to join Juárez, with the deal to be confirmed “in the coming days”.
Ortiz, who had previously been a regular for Pumas, was limited to nine appearances for the club during the Apertura 2023 tournament, of which just four were starts.
Indeed, the defender didn’t feature at all during the end-of-tournament playoffs, as Antonio Mohamed’s side reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by Tigres.
Signed from Leones Negros in 2021, Ortiz has made 77 appearances for Pumas, scoring five times.
Who have Pumas bought, sold for Clausura 2024?
Ahead of this month’s Clausura kick-off, Pumas have offloaded striker Dinenno to Brazilian soccer, where the 29-year-old is to play for Cruzeiro, while Fernández has been sold to fellow Liga MX side Cruz Azul.
In addition, youngster Emanuel Montejano Arroyo has joined second-tier Mexican club Celaya.
Pumas, who haven’t won the Liga MX title since the Clausura 2011, have signed Peru midfielder Piero Quispe from Universitario de Deportes, and Mexico forward Guillermo Martínez from Puebla.
When is Pumas’ first Clausura 2024 game?
The seven-time Mexican champions begin their Clausura 2024 campaign at home to Juárez on Sunday 14 January, with the game at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario scheduled to begin at 1pm ET/10am PT.