GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Could Herculez Gomez become the first foreign international to play for Chivas Guadalajara?
That's the rumor ESPN's Jorge Ramos y su Banda were discussing on their radio show on Wednesday, suggesting that there is interest from the club famous for playing with all Mexican nationals.
"In Chivas, there may be interest in two players from Santos Laguna, one of those is Herculez Gomez," Ramos said. "The problem is that Gomez plays for the US national team."
The show went on to discuss whether Gomez (above, left) could even be eligible to play for the Rebaño Sagrado, discussing the fact that he is officially a dual national and that both his parents are Mexicans (actually both are from the state of Jalisco, of which Guadalajara is the capital).
READ: Gomez expected to start vs. Cruz Azul on Friday
Chivas released a press statement on Oct. 27, intended to clear up the issue of naturalized players at the club, but did not mention that foreign internationals with Mexican citizenship are disqualified from playing for the club.
"Any person that was born in the country, or is the son of Mexican parents, is Mexican and is able to play for the Rebaño," reads the statement, adding that the club already has six US-born players in its ranks.
Gomez currently plays for Santos Laguna as a Mexican, thus not taking up one of the five foreigner spots each team in the Liga MX is permitted.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
