Real Madrid vs Barcelona: which Mexican players have competed in El Clásico?

There may not be any Mexicans in this latest Clásico -- Thursday evening sees the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final -- but there are a few El Tri legends who know what it is to put on the colors of Real Madrid or Barcelona as the football world sets their sights on Spain’s biggest derby.

El Tri and El Clásico: the Mexico connection

It’s been nearly a decade since the last member of the azteca International side played for either of these teams. The first Mexican to participate in a Clásico almost a century ago. Let’s take a trip back in time...

Jose Ramon Sauto, Real Madrid (1933-1944)

The Madridista introduced Mexicans to El Clásico nine decades ago. Sauto played eight seasons for the capital city side, playing in eight matches vs. Los Cules. He could have played in more if not for the Spanish Civil War breaking out. La Liga was suspended and Sauto spent some of that time fleeing and hiding out from authorities but was eventually let free due to his ties to the club.

Hugo Sanchez

Is there anyone more famous to come out of Mexico than Hugo Sanchez? He was an international icon, and the first local that Mexicans got to watch participate in a Clásico on television. Sanchez played seasons with Los Blancos and played in 17 Clásicos. In those 17 games Sanchez scored 10 goals, which is good enough for 11th most in the all time series.

Rafa Marquez

The former captain on the International side was in Barcelona for seven seasons. His partnership with Carles Puyol was one of the most ferocious in Europe back in the early 2000′s. In his seven seasons with Barcelona, Marquez played Madrid eight times winning four, drawing one and losing three. At the end of his career he four La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies and a Copa Del Rey.

The Dos Santos brothers

Giovani Dos Santos was raised in Barcelona’s La Maisa after moving to Spain at the age of 13. He played with Barcelona’s first team for only a year, but made two appearances against Real Madrid before going on to play for eight clubs over the next 14 seasons. He came off the bench in both matches, but Barca lost 0-1 in the first encounter and 4-1 in the second.

Gio’s younger brother Johnathan was at the Catalan club much longer, but never got to play in a Clásico. He would get to play Real Madrid later in his career, but that was when he was playing for Villarreal after the Yellow Submarine scooped him in 2014.

Javier Hernandez

Chicharito was loaned to Real Madrid in 2014-15 after four seasons at Manchester United. Chicharito found it hard to get regular playing time in his time at the Bernabeu, sitting behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Chicharito was part of Madrid for two Clásicos, but didn’t play in either.