Andre Jardine confirms Jonathan Rodriguez transfer rumors

Club America head coach Andre Jardine confirmed rumors that a team from MLS are interested in signing forward Jonathan Rodriguez.

Jardine addressed the media after his team's narrow 2-1 defeat to Pachuca Saturday night in which Erick Sanchez's brace dismantled the Eagles at the Estadio Hidalgo. America had a few moments here and there on the night, but the hosts were deserved winners and gave Jardine's side their first loss of the 2024 Clausura season.

Underneath the loss, however, were the rumors that surfaced earlier in the week about a potential transfer for Rodriguez to Major League Soccer. Since joining America in July of 2022, the 30-year-old has managed 21 goals in 61 appearances, and his departure would leave Jardine short in the attacking department as they're already competing in Liga MX and the Champions Cup with Leagues Cup to follow during the summer.

However, a report from TUDN states that a transfer is more likely to happen later on in April before MLS' primary transfer window closes with Rodriguez also keen on moving to the league.

"We really want Jonathan to stay here because he is an important player for our team, he has many decisive moments in important games," Jardine said in Spanish after the defeat to Pachuca. "But we are going to see how this develops, I think it is at an early stage in the negotiations."

While Jardine expressed his desire for Rodriguez to stay at the Estadio Azteca, he won't stand in the way of him leaving if a 'great offer' is sent to the club, citing the player's age as a reason to essentially cash in on his while he still has decent value.

"America will make every effort to keep him, Jona is very calm, I spoke with him and of course he likes the idea of ​​being here, which is very different from what I read in a couple of news stories out there. 

"He is happy and pleased with America, great atmosphere, we all love him, but I imagine that millions of things are also happening in his head, he is already a 30-year-old player. If a great offer comes for him, fine."

America will look to get back on track after their defeat to Pachuca when they take on Mazatlan at home on February 21.

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