Goalkeeper Luis Malagón of the Mexico national team will not play in the Copa América due to a muscular ailment, El Tri’s coach Jaime Lozano announced on Friday.
Carlos Acevedo, a player for Santos Laguna, will start in goal for Club América instead of the 27-year-old goalie who was expected to start in this summer’s competition.
Muscle soreness plagued Malagón when he reported to Mexico’s camp, and as the national team continued to prepare for a run of three friendlies against the United States, his condition grew worse.
In the lead-up to Mexico’s friendly match against Brazil at Kyle Field on Saturday, he had tests on Friday at a hospital in College Station, Texas. The tests came back with a three- to four-week absence due to a gluteus muscle issue.
It is anticipated that Pumas goalkeeper Julio González would start for Mexico against Brazil and maybe in the Copa América. The 33-year-old athlete has only ever received one international cap.
Following the exclusion of legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from a recent Copa América preliminary roster, Mexico is currently going through a transitional period. Malagón (four caps), González (one cap), and Raúl Rangel (premiere earlier this week) were chosen to take his position.
“I told Carlos Acevedo, just because you arrive as the fourth goalkeeper doesn’t mean that you are not going to come and compete to be the starter,” stated Lozano.
“I believe the three are in rivalry with one another; they are all excellent goalkeepers. They appear to be extremely hungry and eager to participate in the World Cup and to protect Mexico’s goal as well.
Other well-known ‘El Tri’ veterans like winger Hirving Lozano, who just joined with San Diego FC, and striker Raúl Jiménez of Fulham were not included in Mexico’s most recent call-up.
Mexico has been assigned to Group B at the Copa América, which begins on June 20 and includes Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica.
