By DAN KARELL
One of Mexican soccer’s most colorful characters has moved north of the border.
Former Chivas de Guadalajara and Mexico National Team forward Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista has signed a contract with Chivas USA, marking the first time the 34-year-old will play his club soccer outside of Mexico. Bautista will be added to the squad pending the receipt of his international transfer certificate (ITC).
Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
While Bautista may have lost a step or two at this age, there’s no doubt he brings experience and a goal-scoring resume with him to StubHub Center. In his 16-year professional career, Bautista has played more than 300 league matches and scored 85 goals in Liga MX for Estudiantes Tecos, Morelia, Pachuca, Chivas de Guadalajara, Chiapas, and Atletico San Luis in the Mexican second division.
While at Chivas de Guadalajara, Bofo helped lead the club to an Apertura league title in 2006 and a second-place finish in the 2010 Copa Libertadores. Bofo scored one of Chivas’ goals in the finals, though they fell, 5-3 on aggregate, to Internacional of Brazil.
Perhaps worrying for Chivas USA is that Bautista hasn’t played regularly since the 2010/2011 season. He didn’t play an official match during the 2012 calendar year and first half of 2013, and Bautista failed to score in 12 appearances in the recent Apertura season for Atletico San Luis.
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What do you think of this news? Excitied about this signing? Do you think he can have an impact in MLS?