Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 4y

Liga MX owners valuations hurt Mexicans' chances to play in Europe - Chivas' Brizuela

Chivas winger Isaac Brizuela believes that the high prices demanded by Liga MX club owners hampers more Mexican players moving to Europe, citing his failed transfer to Scottish giant Celtic as an example.

"[The Mexican player is overvalued] by the directors here, yes," said Brizuela on ESPN's Ahora o Nunca. "We've seen that they've paid many millions for some players. I feel that there they put a high price on some players, including myself."

- Stream new episodes of ESPN FC weekdays on ESPN+
- Stream every episode of 30 for 30: Soccer Stories on ESPN+

Chivas' Brizuela, 29, commented that around the time of the 2014 World Cup there was interest from Celtic, but despite him stressing that he could play Champions League football and that his then-team Toluca could receive a sell-on clause, the club made it difficult for him to leave.

"They said that in Mexico a team could pay double [what Celtic offered]," said Brizuela.

The winger added that Mexico could have "two or three times" more players in Europe if club owners didn't hold out for higher prices.

"Brazilian and Argentine clubs sell cheaply and know how to negotiate with those teams," said Brizuela. "They know that in a year they sell the player to a bigger team."

San Jose, California native Brizuela also said that he talked to ESPN's Herculez Gomez about playing for the United States national team, but that before talks could seriously get underway he was called into the Mexico squad for the 2013 Gold Cup.

^ Back to Top ^