Santiago Muñoz on his return to Mexico: “People spoke badly about me without knowing the reasons”
The Santos Laguna striker spent a year and a half on loan with Newcastle’s Under-23 and Under-21 teams. Now he’s back in the Liga MX .
Santiago Muñoz, one of the most interesting prospects in Mexican soccer, experienced a stage in his professional career that marked him for better and worse when he spent 18 months on loan at Newcastle United. His time an England was a unique experience for the Santos Laguna youth player, but his return to our country, for some, was seen as a failure.
In an exclusive interview with AS México, the young forward revealed how he handles criticism: ‘’I’m 21 years old, I try not to focus too much on that. At the time people spoke badly about me without knowing what the reasons were and without knowing the true story of why things happened the way they did. In that regard, I am calm; I’m working on my return and looking to the future. Hopefully I can give them something to talk about me,’’ the Concacaf Pre-Olympic champion explained.
Unforgettable experience in England
Muñoz said he was happy about the time he spent at St James Park and reiterated that he is better off now in all aspects during his new stage with the Torreón club: ‘’[Newcastle] was great - it was like doing a soccer master’s degree. I felt like I spent a year and a half rubbing shoulders with the best players in the best league,” he said.
“I learned a lot by being immersed in another kind of football, something that I have been able to bring back here. I’ve come back to show what I’ve learned and I’m grateful to Santos for giving me the opportunity to fulfill that experience. Another Santi returns, totally different from the one who left. I am much more mature. I went to England alone, and that made me appreciate the things I have. I’ve returned to Santos with a winning mentality and without a doubt I want to be a champion with this club. I am indebted for everything they have given me,’’ added the player, born in El Paso, Texas.
During the same chat, the Guerreros’ forward reiterated the good relationship he has with strike partner Harold Preciado (the team’s top scorer in the Apertura 2023 with eight goals so far) and hopes to learn from him: “He sees things in me and helps me with everything,” he ended.