Javier Mascherano said, in an interview with Ricardo Peláez, that he was close to directing the Chivas of Guadalajara.
The former Argentina player explained that there were serious conversations, but he had already begun training the youth teams of the Argentina team.
“The Chivas decided at that time to continue with an interim coach and later, when Chivas came to hire me, with more determination, I had already started training in the Argentine youth teams. I had started and obviously I was not going to leave my position to leave and go somewhere else. I had already given my word and my commitment to be in that place,” declared the Argentine.
According to reports, Mascherano was close to joining the club after holding talks in August 2021.
This occurred about a month before Manuel Vucetich was fired as direct coach of the Sacred Flock.
“We had talks, but hey, football is like that sometimes. To round things off a bit, the first time we were much closer, but hey, Chivas “He decided to continue with his project, then when they came more firmly, I was already busy, but yes, the truth is that we were close, especially the first time.”
The last contact between both parties occurred in February 2022, but by that time, Mascherano had the Argentina under-20 team, a team that he took to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Ricardo Pélaez, who worked as Chivas’ sports director at the time, explained that he was also in contact with Gabriel Milito. The conversations were more serious with Javier Mascherano.
“At some point there was talk about (Javier) Mascherano, that great national team and Barcelona player for a long time, in different positions. Later spoke with (Gabriel) Milito, one of the Milito brothers, He was a coach in Argentina too. The Mascherano thing was already very advanced and in the last talk it did not happen. Maybe because of the economic aspect, which is an important factor,” said Ricardo Peláez.
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