Club Leon is getting stronger as the weeks pass by in the Liga MX offseason as this Thursday they made official the signing of Mexican defender Rafael Marquez. The Mexican national team veteran returns to Mexico after more than a decade in which he played for teams like Monaco, FC Barcelona, and more recently New York Red Bulls. By signing with Leon he will add quality, talent, and depth to the weakest area of the ‘panzas verdes’ which was the defense.
Rafa Marquez is a natural central defender, but for the Red Bulls he was mostly used as a defensive midfielder. In case he is used as a midfielder, coach Gustavo Matosas can use Marquez as a sole defensive midfielder while allowing Carlos Peña to move up; this since Peña has shown signs of good playmaking and scoring abilities.
Leon has benefitted greatly by being owned by Grupo Pachuca. This is a firm that also owns C.F. Pachuca, and with this partnership the panzas verdes have obtained ex-Pachuca players like Javier Muñoz Mustafa (now in San Luis), Luis Montes, Carlos Peña, and Nery Castillo. Today, Leon signed Marquez with the idea that his talent and experience will aid this prosperous team not only in the Liga MX, but also in the Copa Libertadores.
