Tijuana Xolos: Should Club Tijuana Look To Sign Former Great Cristian Pellerano?
The Liga MX Apertura has yet to end as the final between Monterrey and Tigres UANL has yet to be played, but the transfer window for the league is now underway.
Some teams have already made moves, but the Tijuana Xolos have yet to do anything as the newest manager that will take over after Eduardo Coudet’s stint has yet to be officially announced.
All signs say that former Santos Laguna manager, Diego Cocca, is set to start his own rebuilding phase in Tijuana after a failed one by “Chacho” Coudet. It is still unclear what players will stay and which will arrive at the Estadio Caliente in the next month, but some teams have already announced their list of transferable players.
Among the teams that have already announced their players that can be dealt is Veracruz. That list included an ex-Xolo, Cristian Pellerano.
The Argentine midfielder played with Club Tijuana from the Apertura 2012 until the Apertura 2014, when he became a fan favorite and a vital player for the Aztec Canines.
Antonio Mohamed brought in Pellerano for the Apertura 2012 competition, and the Buenos Aires native made an immediate impact as he was an important player in the Xolos’ championship-winning team.
Pellerano was a consistent starter in his stint with Club Tijuana and his impact in the midfield is comparable to what Guido Rodriguez accomplished recently with the team. The Argentine has always been more of a defensive-minded player, but he somehow managed to score seven goals in the Clausura 2014 tournament. After his departure from the Xoloitzcuintles, Pellerano has stayed in Mexican soccer, playing with Club America, Monarcas Morelia, Tapachula, and Veracruz.
The South American midfielder is now 35 years old and will be 36 on February 1, but he can still be an impactful player. For Veracruz, he has been a consistent player in the last two tournaments and he can offer his defensive abilities and leadership to Xolos.
One of Pellerano’s best games in the Apertura 2017 came at the Estadio Caliente against Club Tijuana in week 13 of the tournament. Veracruz pulled off a surprising scoreless draw against the Aztec Canines and the veteran midfielder was arguably the best player in that game. Pellerano played the entire 90 minutes, had four of six accurate long balls, won eight of 10 duels, had a key pass and a shot on target, and had two clearances, blocked shots, and interceptions each.
One of the biggest problems for the Xolos in the Apertura 2017 was chemistry, and Pellerano being such a great leader can help in that department immensely. Even at his advanced age, the Argentine has proven to be a solid player, but a big problem is that he would take a foreign spot for the 9/9 rule that requires a minimum of nine players formed in Mexico and a maximum of nine foreigners. Pellerano isn’t the exciting signing fans are expecting, but many fans will be content to see his return, and he could be what the Xolos are missing.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.
