Monday night’s international friendly between Mexico and Senegal at Soldier Field in Chicago was a homecoming of sorts for Mexican midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco.
Blanco played with the Fire from the middle of 2007 through the end of last season before electing to sign with Veracruz before the 2010 season.
But Blanco’s contract at Veracruz expired at the end of the Mexican season last month, and he will presumably be looking for a club after participating in this summer’s World Cup.
A return to the Fire isn’t out of the question.
“We never close any doors with any players,” said Fire technical director Frank Klopas, who attended the Mexico-Senegal match in Chicago on Monday night. “Obviously the door is always open, especially for players [like Temo] who hold the Fire in high regards and feel that this has been a good place for them.”
Blanco, who refused numerous requests for interviews following Mexico’s 1-0 win over Senegal, was greeted on the field prior to the match by Klopas and Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos. The Fire duo presented Blanco with a watch as a token of good luck for the upcoming World Cup.
“It was nice,” Klopas said of the ceremony. “Temo’s a good guy that I’ve gotten to know during my time here, I have a lot of respect for him as a person and it was good to be out there.”
Blanco entered Monday’s match in the 56th minute. He electrified the completely pro-Mexican crowd with his play, and could have finished the game with two assists if it weren’t for some poor finishing by teammate Alberto Medina.
“He’s a guy that wants to put on a show,” said Klopas. “He’s recognizable anywhere he goes, but especially here in Chicago, [so I think] he wanted to entertain a little bit more.”
