Mexico national team midfielder Jesus Molina will reunite with former manager Antonio Mohamed as he moves from Santos Laguna to Monterrey for the 2017 Clausura, the teams announced Friday.
"We are grateful for the dedication and professionalism Molina always showed the club and its fans during his time with Santos Laguna, and we wish him the best in this next phase of his career," Santos said in a statement.
Santos wasn't done dealing after moving Molina, a 2016 Mexico mainstay, announcing that it had signed United States international defender Ventura Alvarado and Parayguay midfielder Osvaldo Martinez from Club America.
#SantosCommunication: Los Guerreros announce the transfer of midfielder @j_molina5 to @Rayados of Monterrey. Best of luck, Guerrero! pic.twitter.com/aDVAHTzdMJ
— ClubSantosLaguna (@ClubSantosEn) December 2, 2016
Santos also announced the goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin has been transferred to America. The goalkeeper, who won the prize best goalkeeper after the 2016 Clausura, tried to leave northern Mexico for Boca Juniors during the summer, but Santos would not negotiate with the Argentine club.
Santos acquired Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco on Friday, with a rumored move for Club America goalkeeper Moises Munoz to Club Tijuana to fill retiring shot-stopper Federico Vilar's spot potentially the last move remaining on the goalkeeper-mobile. Orozco made 318 first-division starts for Monterrey since starting with the club in 2005, but Los Rayados brought in Ecuador No. 1 Alexander Dominguez in the summer.
The Torreon-based side finished 16th in the Apertura, above just two teams in the league. The current coach is Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre, the fourth man in charge since Santos won the title as a No. 8 seed in the 2015 Clausura.
