Club America reaches out to Francisco Rodriguez

Posted Saturday, December 29, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Club America Sporting Director Ricardo Pelaez says that the team has been in contact with national team defender Francisco Rodriguez as a potential replacement for the departing Diego Reyes, though nothing is finished yet.

“We’ve made contact with him,” Pelaez said, while refuting speculation that Rodriguez has arrived in Mexico this week to sign with America. “He’s a candidate. We’re looking at preventing situations [caused by Reyes’ departure], but nothing’s concrete.”

A regular starter last season for his club, Stuttgart of the German Bundesliga, Maza has had trouble finding playing time this season, and has hinted strongly at a winter move back to Mexico.

Reyes has signed to move to Portuguese side Porto, but will stay in Mexico City through June.

Pelaez says the veteran Rodriguez is a natural candidate to fill the void left by the up and coming Reyes, who has become a leader in defense for the Eagles after a sterling Olympic campaign in the summer of 2012.

“If we can finish the deal for this tournament, that’s great,” said Palaez. “If not, for June. The important thing is to open contact with him.”

Veteran defender Rodriguez, 31, began his club career at Chivas, before a 2008 move to Holland. He has since spent a year and a half in Germany.