Aviles Hurtado on the attack for Tijuana Xolos. Photo Credit: Itzel Segura / Prost Amerika
By: Jonny Rico
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When a big spending club decides to open up the wallet and reinforce its squad, there is usually very little to stop it. Whether it’s Real Madrid and Manchester United brining in Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovich in Europe or Club America brining in Liga MX’s biggest stars like Oribe Peralta, Pablo César Aguilar, and many more.
America had very little time to plan, playing in the 2016 Apertura playoffs, making it all the way to the final plus a long detour through Japan in the FIFA Club World did not leave the Mexico City side much time to look ahead to the 2017 Clausura season which is set to kickoff Friday, Jan. 6.
League officials gave both Apertura finalist Tigres UANL and America a small transfer deadline extension. And in the dying hours of that extension, Club America made all available efforts to bring in Colombian forward Aviles Hurtado from Tijuana Xolos.
It was reported by several media outlets that both club’s directors had come to terms for the transfer of Hurtado to America, while Xolos would be receiving another Colombian forward, Carlos Darwin Quintero, who had been transfer listed by America.
Only an official announcement from either club was needed to complete the deal. But said announcement never came. The league’s transfer deadline extension came and went and neither America nor Tijuana announced the transfer.
After having come to terms with the Xolos directors, Club America officials were unable to convince Hurtado himself to make the move from the border to the big city. Aviles Hurtado decided he wanted to stay in Tijuana and continue to play for the Xolos.
Huratado, a defender’s nightmare. Photo Credit: Itzel Segura / Prost Amerika
Hurtado’s actions are nothing short of a refreshing show of loyalty in a world where loyalty is no longer valued. Aviles might have dazzled the Tijuana fans with his skills on the pitch during his first six months at the club. But his off-field loyalty might have won over the hearts of the Xolos fan-base.
The Xoloitzcuintles supporters have endured many transfers of their biggest stars precisely to the big Club America side. Central defender Pablo Cesar Aguilar was the first, Argentine striker Dario Benedetto, defensive midfielders Christian Pellerano and Javier Güemez have all shined for Xolos, backed their bags and moved on to Club America. And all of the above have gone on to win trophies in the big city with America all while Xolos suffered a dip into the relegation zone.
Hurtado has only been at Tijuana for one semester, but he was part of the solution that got Xolos out of relegation troubles and into a top of the table finish during the 2016 Apertura season.
Be sure to buy your copy of 2016 – The Year in Mexican Soccer with foreword by Tijuana Xolos Head Coach Miguel Herrera.
Prost Amerika’s Mexican Soccer Yearbook
