Guadalajara Chivas has undergone a strategic overhaul in its player sales policy, driven by owner Amaury Vergara and sporting director Alejandro Manzo. This shift represents a significant departure from the club's traditional philosophy, now prioritizing financial returns and future sell-on clauses.
The new direction was cemented when Alejandro Manzo took control of the sporting area in 2022, following the departure of Ricardo Peláez. Manzo, who began his role at Chivas in 2021 as technical secretary, has been instrumental in redefining how the club handles the exits of its talents. "The objective is no longer solely to help the departure of its footballers, but to do so through operations that allow the club to obtain remuneration in line with each player's value and, in some cases, retain a stake in their future," Manzo explained.
The previous model, associated with the Jorge Vergara era, focused predominantly on supporting players' dreams of competing abroad, even if that meant releasing them as free agents. Cases like the departures of Omar Bravo and Oswaldo Alanís without financial compensation exemplify that stage. The current strategy seeks to capitalize on players' market value. Recent operations like the transfers of Mateo Chávez and Armando González to Europe generated significant income for the club's coffers, with Chivas also retaining percentages of the players' rights to benefit from future sales.
This approach showed earlier signs. The sale of Carlos Vela to Arsenal for around 500,000 euros and that of Raúl Gudiño to Porto for approximately 1.5 million euros were transactions pointing in this direction. The loan deals with purchase options for Carlos Salcedo to Fiorentina and JJ Macías to Getafe were also part of this gradual evolution. Amaury Vergara summarized the turn by stating: "Chivas is changing the way it understands the departure of its footballers abroad."
The new sporting and management philosophy coincides with a strong period for the team in Liga MX. Guadalajara Chivas holds second place in the standings, with 14 points from 7 matches (4 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss). The team arrives at this stage after a resounding 0-3 victory against Atlético San Luis on September 5th. Their recent form is positive, with 3 wins and 2 draws in the last five games, remaining unbeaten in that period. With 12 goals scored and only 6 conceded, they exhibit a +6 goal difference.
The immediate context for Chivas is a key home fixture. Their next league commitment is on September 14th against UNAM Pumas, a team currently in twelfth place in the standings. This match represents an opportunity to continue the good run and close the two-point gap separating them from the leaders, Club America. The solidity shown on the pitch, with a defense that has conceded few goals, will be an important asset. Fans can follow the team's planning for this and other matches on the fixtures calendar.
The transformation in transfer policy, therefore, unfolds alongside a competitive league campaign. Alejandro Manzo's management not only looks to the future financial balance through sell-on clauses but also seeks to sustain a successful sporting project in the present. The comprehensive approach aims to ensure Chivas is competitive both on and off the pitch, building a sustainable model that benefits the club in the long term.
