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The last of the Liga MX transfers are in! Several teams strengthened their rosters amid the 2023 Clausura, in hopes to reach the Liguilla. Santos Laguna and Tigres UANL saw the busiest end to the window, bringing in new figures.
Here’s everything you missed…
El Factor is back.
Lainez joins the Tigres on loan for the 2023 Liga MX Clausura, while the team maintain the option to buy the player from Real Betis at the end of the tournament.
“I am very happy, very happy, excited about this project. I am very committed to the team, happy and hopefully soon I will be working on what I want the most,” he said when arriving at the Monterrey International Airport.
“I think it is an opportunity, a very nice and important challenge for me and I am going to face it in the best way as I have always done in my career. Tigres is an interesting project, they have always shown interest from [team president] Mauricio Culebro, who I have known for a long time and have always been there, and has shown interest since I left for Europe and I am very happy to be back.”
Lainez returns to Liga MX after an unsuccessful stint in Europe. He managed 55 appearances with Real Betis in four seasons, serving mostly as a substitute player before joining Sporting Braga on loan in 2022. The winger saw a promising start with the Portuguese club, recording one goal and two assists in 12 games. But the team ended the loan spell early, sending him back to Real Betis.
Santos Laguna signed Lucas “Saltita” González from Argentinian side Independiente.
He joins on a one-year loan for an estimated transfer fee of $250,000. Should Santos make the signing permanent, Gonzalez would cost an additional $1.8m.
González stands as a product of the Independiente youth academy, working his way through the system before reaching the first team in 2020. He quickly adapted to become a starter in regular season matches.
The midfielder will now work to replace Fernando Gorriarran, who played an integral part in head coach Eduardo Fentanes’ roster before transferring to Tigres UANL ahead of the 2023 Clausura.
Santos Laguna sign Inter Miami winger Emerson Rodriguez through the end of 2023.
He departs Major League Soccer after one goal in 22 league appearances for Inter Miami, and three goals for the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Inter Miami CF II. He’s expected to see a lot more playing time under Eduardo Fentanes, as Santos Laguna’s squad needs bolstering.
