GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Sonny Guadarrama is headed back to second-division club Mérida FC, after making the move this week from sister club Atlante.
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder featured for Mérida during the Apertura 2011 tournament and the Clausura 2011, splitting his time between Atlante and los Venados. He was officially presented to the media as a full-time Mérida player on Wednesday.
“I'm coming to give everything, fight in every game, do a good job both in defense and attack and, if things go well, score some goals,” Guadarrama told his new club's official website.
The Austin, Texas, native made his Primera División debut back in November 2006 for Santos Laguna, but has bounced between first and second tier in Mexico since then, featuring for Morelia, Mérida and Atlante. Guadarrama added that he is excited about the challenge at Mérida and has high hopes that the club can do well this season.
“I've got a special fondness for the people from this city and I'm not lying in saying that this group has been strengthened really well and should be fighting at the top [of the league],” he said.
Guadarrama's primary role will be to help the team get on the tally sheet. Last season, Mérida only scored 16 times in 14 games, but finished in second position thanks to a watertight defense that only leaked eight goals.
He won't be the only American at Mérida, however, with striker Isaac Acuña also there on loan from Club América.
One American that hasn't been able to move to the area so smoothly is Jonathan Bornstein, who was loaned to Atlante during last week's draft. According to reports in the Mexican press, the deal is still being worked out between Tigres UANL and Atlante, with Bornstein back training in Monterrey until he hears further news.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America. Contact him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
