He hasn’t done anything in over two years, but Martino prefers him over “Chicharito” and Vela

Mexico National Team faced Nigeria on Saturday night on the first of three friendly games that they will have in the next few weeks, although Gerardo “Tata” Martino surprised everyone even before the game started, as it was the first time that he used that lineup.

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One that no one was expecting was the apparition of Rodolfo Cota in the starting XI, even if Guillermo Ochoa was part of the trainings for the last week, as he joined El Tri camp after Club América lost in the semifinals of Clausura 2022 against FC Pachuca.

But the biggest surprise was on the attack, as Gerardo Martino decided to start a player that hasn’t done a thing in over two years, but according to the Argentine coach, he has the obligation of helping him to recover his level as he was important at the start of his stint.

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After parting ways with CF Monterrey back in 2020, Rodolfo Pizarro’s level has diminished significantly, as the Mexican offensive midfielder couldn’t establish as an essential player for Inter Miami CF and even if he was a Designated Player, he ended up losing his place on the lineup.

At the end of last season, the team owned by David Beckham informed him that he was no longer in plans of the Herons, which is why he returned to Rayados, where he tried to recover his level, but neither Javier Aguirre nor Victor Manuel Vucetich found a place for him on the roster.

Pizarro played 10 games in Clausura 2022 although only six of them were as a starter, showing that he’s far from the level needed to play in the national team, but that hasn’t stopped Martino from calling him up and giving him a place in the starting XI, as he insists on having him on the final roster to Qatar.

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