Will goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco rejoin Liga MX club Monterrey?

Veteran goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco says he’s in negotiations over a return to Monterrey, the club where he began his career.

Orozco out to end playing days with Rayados

Orozco, who has been a free agent since leaving fellow Liga MX club Tijuana in the summer, told Fox Sports: “We’re in talks. I’d like to return to finish my career at the club where it all started, where I spent 20 years.

“We’re talking to ‘Tato’ [Monterrey president José Antonio Noriega] and the plan is to come back for a year at least, before hanging up my gloves.”

Orozco, 37, graduated from Monterrey’s youth academy before making 367 first-team appearances for the five-time Mexican champions between 2004 and 2016.

In that time, he helped Rayados to two Liga MX titles and three CONCACAF Champions League triumphs.

Capped nine times by Mexico, Orozco spent three years at Santos Laguna after leaving Monterrey, before joining Tijuana in 2020.

“Six months of bragging rights at stake” in Tigres clash

Speaking to Fox, Orozco also looked ahead to Monterrey’s Liga MX clash with crosstown rivals Tigres this weekend, in the latest edition of the ‘Clásico Regio’.

“You’re playing for more than just three points,” he said. “This game is all about pride, passion and love of the game, because people here eat, drink and sleep soccer.

“In the lead-up to the game, the atmosphere reaches fever pitch in Monterrey. It’s particularly intense when you’re dealing with a two-team city of this size, where there’s a lot of chatter about who has the best support, who is Mexico’s fifth major club [alongside traditional ‘big four’ América, Chivas, Cruz Azul and Pumas], and who has more titles. Six months of bragging rights are at stake.”

Tigres vs Monterrey: when and where?

Monterrey, who sit fifth in the Liga MX’s Apertura 2023 tournament, visit fourth-placed Tigres at the Estadio Universitario de Nuevo León on Saturday 23 September.

Kick-off is scheduled for 11:05pm ET/8:05pm PT.