Alexis Vega rejects move to Europe: 'I am focused on Chivas'

Chivas de Guadalajara figure Alexis Vega revealed he rejected a move to Europe, choosing instead to stay with the Liga MX club ahead of the 2023 Clausura.

The forward previously insisted he longed for a move abroad, vowing to “keep working hard” for that opportunity. 

“The dream to go to Europe remains intact. Obviously, I re-signed with Chivas with the illusion of making and playing in the World Cup, but the idea doesn’t leave my mind. I’m sure, and again if I keep working hard, the opportunities will come,” he said exclusively to 90min in August.  

But despite receiving offers, Vega now seems overly committed to Chivas de Guadalajara. 

“There are cases where sometimes we rush just to fulfill the dream of playing in Europe and in six months or a year you are back. One team we had talks with wanted to take me to Europe, where I would play there for six months [at the highest level] and if it didn't go well, return on loan to another Liga MX team.

“I don't see the point in going to play for six months, the time it takes to adapt to the pressure and for you to adapt in the best way. Due to those situations, you make the decision to rush the process. Now I am focused on Chivas. I am super happy to stay here with my family for a long time,” Vega said to TUDN.

The Mexican national team player went on to invalidate the plethora of transfer rumors that arose after his performance during the 2022 World Cup.

“Many media outlets came out to say that many teams wanted me, that many teams were after me, but the reality is that no. The reality is that there were talks with two teams and as I have always said, nothing concrete, they just ask and that's it,” he said to TUDN. 

“It's not that I go around offering myself to all the teams or that my representative tells him 'get in there and tell them I'm here', I've always said it; I am very calm that if one day a team is going to want me, they are going to come, they are going to ask and they are going to put the money so that I can emigrate to Europe and if not, as I always said when I renewed, I will stay here happy.”

Vega first joined Chivas in 2018 from Toluca for an estimated transfer fee of $9m, making him one of the team’s most expensive purchases. But he has delivered for Guadalajara, managing 24 goals and 23 assists in 121 overall appearances. During the 2022 Apertura alone, he recorded  three goals and four assists in 17 games to lead Chivas to the playoffs reclassification match. 

His Liga MX success also propelled him to an international career with Mexico, often featuring for El Tri under Gerardo Martino.