Sunderland coach Regis Le Bris may have inadvertently ki-boshed his switch to Liverpool, but Champions League football in 2025 would not be a bad consolation prize.
Because, only a few months after his aborted switch across the Atlantic, one of the rising stars of Central America should finally earn the chance to make his name in European football.
It’s been a while in coming, in truth.
Had Regis Le Bris not turned his nose up at such an opportunity, Cesar Huerta could be wearing the red and white of Sunderland right now.
According to those in the know, Sunderland were offered the chance to sign Cesar Huerta on loan once the Punas UNAM winger completed his expected switch to Premier League challengers Liverpool over the summer.
Perhaps he felt that Sunderland had enough options on the left with Romain Mundle, the versatile Wilson Isidor and rising star Tommy Watson. Ironically enough, with Mundle and Watson now unavailable due to injury, Sunderland could do with a player of Huerta’s talents to call upon on the flank.
Regis Le Bris blocked Cesar Huerta’s Sunderland switch
That Sunderland snub, meanwhile, also caused a breakdown in discussions between Pumas UNAM and Liverpool.
“There was an issue,” Huerta would tell ESPN. “I had my suitcase ready, but [the transfer] fell through because of an issue. I know it’s a train that only comes once.”
Well, although the destination may be different this time, the dawn of the January transfer window should at least see another train or two pull into Huerta’s station.
According to El Universal, the club ‘most advanced in negotiations’ with the late-blooming 24-year-old is none other than Portuguese giants Benfica. The Lisbon outfit are reportedly offering Huerta a decent salary, too – he could potentially replace the legendary Angel di Maria when the veteran’s contract expires – though he would likely return to Mexico on loan until the summer rolls around.
The other option on Huerta’s table, presuming Liverpool have no plans to return, is that of Girona.
And while Michel’s team are facing an uphill battle qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Champions League, Huerta could still feature in Europe’s elite club competition if he moves to Catalonia in early-2025.
Girona, finishing in a remarkable third-place in Spain’s top flight last season, still have AC Milan and Arsenal to come before the first phase is over.
Pumas UNAM determined to sell Huerta before contract runs out
Reporter Cesar Luis Merlo, meanwhile, provided further insight last week into why Huerta missed out on that dream move to England.
“There was an offer from Liverpool, who were willing to buy him and loan him to Sunderland,” Merlo explained. “But, in the end, it didn’t happen, because the Sunderland coach did not want to have Huerta.”
“Chino Huerta has a contract until June of next year. Pumas offered him [the chance] to renew but the reality is that the player, on good terms, told them that he preferred not to do it.
“There is a commitment that he will not go for free. Therefore, he is going to be sold in the next transfer window.
“The priority of ‘Chino’ Huerta is going to play in Europe. So, Pumas is going to try to facilitate his exit at an affordable price. I don’t want to talk figures but I imagine a price much, much lower than 10 million dollars [£8 million].”