Uruguayan Jonathan Rodríguez, striker for Mexican soccer America, assured this Tuesday that this team will open up the possibility of fighting for a place in his team to go to the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
“When the opportunity arose to come without thinking about it, I said yes because this opens up the possibility of looking for a place to go to the World Cup,” said the striker.
Rodríguez was presented on the field of the Azteca Stadium in an open training session attended by more than 12,000 América fans who cheered the Uruguayan and the other two reinforcements of the team for the Apertura 2022: Néstor Araujo and Jürgen Damm.
Rodríguez returned to the Mexican league after six months in Arabian soccer with Al Nasr, a squad with which he only scored one goal, a situation that was decisive for emigrating.
“In Arabia it was not so easy to be taken into account because football is not as competitive as it is here. The decision to come to America was easy. It is the greatest opportunity in my career, because it will allow me to fight for a place in my national team », he reiterated.
Jonathan Rodríguez knows local football well. He was part of Santos Laguna and Cruz Azul, in the latter he was the top scorer in the 2020 Apertura and helped La Maquina break more than two decades without league titles by obtaining the Clausura 2021.
The Uruguayan also shared his excitement at the ovations he received from the Eagles’ fans.
«I never thought I would have this reception, it was something wonderful. I tell the fans that I’m doing very well physically and little by little I’m picking up the pace to give the best to the team”.
Like Rodríguez, Néstor Araujo, a former Celta de Vigo player in the Spanish league, mentioned that he chose América because of the exposure it offers to be called up by the Mexican team for the next World Cup.
«America is a team that is going to fight for titles and that brought me here, I like the project and I take responsibility; In addition, there is a World Cup close and that is the challenge, that is why I come to America to try to reach it, ”explained the central defender.
The third reinforcement, Jürgen Damm pointed out that the reason for signing with this team is to help him get a new title.
“The goal is always the championship here and I really want to help lift league number 14,” Damm stressed.
In their debut in the Apertura 2022 the Águilas tied 0-0 with the champion Atlas at the Azteca Stadium. On matchday two they will visit Monterrey next Saturday. EFE
