Leo Suárez leaves América to join Santos Laguna

Leo Suárez has a new home. He’s heading to Santos Laguna to continue his career in Liga MX after weeks of knowing he wasn’t part of Solari’s plans for Clausura 2022, putting an end to his stint with Club América.

El Indiecito arrived yesterday to Torreón, where he’s waiting to clear the medical tests to join for good Los Laguneros side. Reports suggest that his addition to the northern team will be on a loan, something similar to what previously happened with Andrés Ibargüen.

Leo Suárez was training with América during the preseason, as he returned with the team after Christmas Eve, while waiting to see what his future was going to look, and yesterday he finally found out.

It’s of common knowledge the good relationship that exists between the clubs, as they’ve closed multiple deals over the last decade or so, including the permanent transfer of Diego Valdés from Santos to América this offseason.

The departure of the Argentinean right-winger to La Comarca Lagunera was very much needed by América, as it opens up a spot in Solari’s roster to add a non-Mexican player, meaning they’re close to signing Suárez’s replacement and required to place him out of Coapa as soon as possible.

His numbers with América

Leonardo Suárez joined Las Águilas during the winter transfer window of 2020, when he arrived from Spanish Villarreal to play Clausura 2020. In the two years he played for América, El Indiecito played a total of 48 games, scoring six goals and assisting six times.

For Apertura 2021 he only managed to play three games out of 17, as he had an ankle surgery that prevent him from playing the rest of the season. Either way, Solari wasn’t comfortable with his skillset and decided to part ways with him as soon as the season ended.

América is rebuilding the roster

The 25-year-old right winger joins Sebastián Córdova, Renato Ibarra, Mario Osuna and Nicolás Benedetti as players that left Las Águilas this transfer window.

Benedetti joined Mazatlán side in hopes of having more playing time, on a one-year loan with option of buying. El Poeta barely played last semester and during his stint with Las Águilas had a couple of serious injuries that prevented him from becoming a regular. His departure also opened the roster spot needed to sign Diego Valdés.

Sebastián Córdova left El Nido to get reunited with former América’s coach Miguel “Piojo” Herrera, this time under Tigres colors. He signed a 4-year contract with Los Felinos, where he will try to gain back his trust and become Gignac’s companion in the offense.

Renato Ibarra, who last year played on a loan with Atlas and came back to Coapa for Apertura 2021 but an injury kept him sidelined, joined Xolos of Tijuana for Clausura 2022, in a 1-year loan with option to buy.

Finally, Mario Osuna, who arrived at América during the summer transfer window, hasn’t found a team yet, but Las Águilas told him he’s no longer part of Solari’s plans for the team and he didn’t report back with the team after Christmas Eve’s break.

Las Águilas are waiting for more signings

After the addition of offensive midfielder Diego Valdés out of Santos, and midfielder Jonathan dos Santos, who joined the team as a free agent after finishing his contract with LA Galaxy, and the permanent signing of Mauro Lainez, who was on a loan with the team but now his economic rights belong to América, Las Águilas are still in the market looking for one or two more players.

22-year-old Uruguayan Brian Ocampo is one of the players América has been following, but they needed Suárez’s departure first in order to bid for another foreign player. He plays as a right winger in Club Nacional, which is the same position as Leo plays.

They’re also interested in Mexican-American Alejandro Zendejas, who currently plays for Liga MX side Necaxa and would be a great addition to América’s midfield.