LIGA MX
Marchasín insists América return didn’t fall through because of Guillermo Ochoa-like salary demands
The Argentine goalkeeper won Liga MX’s Apertura 2018 with Las Águilas but insists he is no match for “Mexican Messi” Ochoa.
Agustín Marchesín has had a special place in the hearts of Club América fans ever since he played a key role in helping the club win the Apertura 2018 tournament, their last Liga MX title to date. After leaving for Porto in 2019, there has been speculation the Argentine, now playing in Spain for Celta Vigo, would return to his former club if they were prepared to pay him the same salary as his successor between the sticks, Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, which Marchesín has gone on record to deny.
Guillermo Ochoa the “Mexican Messi”
Speaking to TUDN, the eight-times capped stopper explained: “It was a difficult time for me to return and it’s embarrassing that people would say that. For me, Memo is a Mexican soccer icon, he’s like the Mexican Messi, I have a huge amount of respect for him. For me to ask for even half of what he was earning would be shameful of me. I never even earned that when I was at the height of my career.”
“Of course, I have a lot of affection for América, I am so grateful towards the club. Money was never discussed and would never be an issue. I would be incapable of doing something like that. The best thing is for me to be honest and tell the truth so that people don’t get the wrong idea about me,” he continued.
Why did Marchesín not return to Club América?
Marchesín revealed that talks with Azulcrema bosses had taken place but no agreement was ever particularly close. “We had discussions but it wasn’t the right time. Memo was there and I was playing somewhere else. There were always messages of friendship, like when you joke about things with a friend. But my dream is to return to América, or at least Mexico, one day. My son is Mexican and it would be great to be able to return. I’ve told my wife there are two clubs that are more important to me than money - América and Lanús,” the goalkeeper concluded.
After beginning his profession career with Lanus and following a two-year spell at Santos Laguna, Machersín joined Las Águilas in December 2016 for the Apertura 2017 tournament. He played 131 times for the club, conceding 132 goals, and won the Copa MX and the Campeón de Campeones in 2019, in addition to the Apertura 2018.