LIGA MX
José Castillo: “I see myself lifting the Liga MX title with Chicharito”
The new Chivas signing is setting his ambitions high in his first tournament with the club.
The possibility that Javier Hernández could return to Chivas after 14 years playing at some of Europe’s top clubs, has unleashed a great deal of expectation. Just a couple of weeks before the Clausura 2024 kicked off, the Rebaño Sagrado signed full-back José Castillo, joined on a $2.5 million deal from Pachuca.
The new recruit is upbeat about play his first tournament with Guadalajara and has set his ambitions high - he hopes to lift the title next summer accompanied by Mexican legend Chicharito.
Title dream
Chicharito is currently a free agent and has been training in Miami as he continues with his rehabilitation from an ACL injury. His agents have been negotiating his return to Chivas and the player let slip that he will soon be travelling to “the best city in Mexico” - possibly in the next few days. Castillo meanwhile envisages a golden future with the 35-year-old forward.
“I see myself lifting the championship with him,” the defender said. “The fact that it all seems to be coming together and the possibility of him coming is a source of great motivation for me and the rest of the squad. Who wouldn’t like to share the field with such an emblematic player for this club and for Mexican soccer? He’s an emblematic player and always has been. His return wikll generate a lot of expectation and excitement”.
In the meantime, Castillo continues to dream about getting a call-up for Mexico’s senior side. To achieve that, he knows he has to be consistent with the red and whites. “On an individual level, in the short and medium term, I am going to try to play to the best of my ability. That is the only way I can get to the national team. In the medium-to-long term, I would love to be able to emigrate and play abroad, specifically to Europe”, he added.
So far, Chivas have two official reinforcements - José Castillo and Cade Cowell, who joined from the San José Earthquakes in Major League Soccer. Now, the red and white board is fine-tuning details of the great welcome they have planned for Chicharito Hernández...