Santiago Baños erased him from Club América and now he’s heading to Europe

Since Santiago Baños joined Club América back in 2017, Las Águilas have won just one Liga MX title, a year later with Miguel Herrera as coach, something that has earned him criticism not only from fans but also from soccer analysts and media.

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His decisions have been questionable at times, especially when it comes to the acquisition of new players, which was a major issue prior Clausura 2022 started, as he only signed one of the players that Santiago Solari requested, Jorge Meré, who hasn’t been a starter since he was sacked.

But the additions of several players season after season have closed the door to young prospects, as the spots they could fill in the first team, even just as a substitute role, are taken by the new signings that don’t even get to transcend in Club América.

That’s what happened with Haret Ortega, a 20-year-old center back that had to leave Club América in 2020 after Baños didn’t extend his contract as the president of Las Águilas didn’t think he had the talent to be part of the Azulcrema squad.

Ortega, with a ticket to Europe

After Haret Ortega left Las Águilas, he joined CD Toluca, where he’s played the past two years although it was during the 2021-22 Liga MX Season that he had a breakout season that now has him with a foot and a half in European soccer.

According to reports from Diario Récord and TUDN, as well as Turkish media outlet Fotomac, Turkish side Fenerbahçe FK is interested in acquiring the Toluca defender thanks to the performances that he’s had over the past year.

The good level he’s showed in the current season also earned him his first cap with the Mexican national team, as he was called up by Gerardo “Tata” Martino and debuted on a friendly game against Ecuador, where he played the entire match.

What’s his current market value?

When América decided to part ways with him, his market value was set at $211,000, but now that he has established as one of the best young defenders, it has risen to $3.2 million, an affordable sum for a team like Fenerbahçe, but a bad movement from Las Águilas.

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