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Reported West Ham United target Armando ‘Hormiga’ Gonzalez added two more goals to his tally over the weekend and Chivas coach Gabriel Milito is already dreading a summer of sustained speculation.
West Ham reportedly ‘knocked on the door’ during the January transfer window, reporter Diego Yvey recently told ESPN Mexico. Not only that, they even held talks with his representatives.
In addition to the Premier League survival-battlers, Armando Gonzalez has also attracted interest from Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and even Barcelona.
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Credit: Getty Images/Rob Newell – CameraSport
So Gabriel Milito, the head coach of Chivas Guadalajara, knows that he is in for months of prolonged uncertainty regarding the future of his Golden Boot-chasing Mexico international.
West Ham United may be in the market for a new number nine, despite claims that Callum Wilson could sign a one-year extension at the London Stadium. Barcelona are looking for a long-term Robert Lewandowski successor, meanwhile.
Gabriel Milito hopes to see Armando Gonzalez snub West Ham United again
Milito was speaking to ESPN after Gonzalez took his tally to 20 goals in 28 games with a brace in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Santos Laguna.
“‘Hormiga’ knows what he wants. He comes from a footballing family, and we try to instil that in him too. He has a mentality that always wants to give his all,” Milito said of a striker nicknamed ‘The Ant’ not due to his size – Gonzalez is 5ft 10 – but because of a childhood fear of the busybody bugs.
Photo by Rodrigo Oropeza/Getty Images
“I want him to have the humility to improve on aspects he always needs to improve. I like his evolution as a player, that progress. I want him to be able to participate in the game and do it well.
“If he can go to Europe, of course [he might decide to leave Chivas]. But I want him to stay. I hope he’s not in a hurry to leave, because I’m not!
“‘La Hormiga’ continues to score the goals the team needs. He’s in great form.”
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Credit: Getty Images/Izzy Poles – AMA/Rob Newell – CameraSport/Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto Gonzalez turned down Hammers due to his World Cup dream
The problem for Chivas is that, according to Yvey, Gonzalez has a £15 million release clause in his contract.
The free-scoring 22-year-old rejected a move to Russian giants CSKA Moscow in the winter but, according to his father, Gonzalez hopes to play in Europe at some point.
Yvey claims that West Ham submitted their proposal not to Chivas, but to the striker’s camp. Gonzalez turned down all offers at the time because he wanted to remain fully focused on securing a spot in Mexico’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Mentored by ex-Hammers hitman and La Tri legend Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, Gonzalez scored his first goal on the international stage in a 4-0 friendly thrashing of Iceland in February.
“West Ham are a team that already knows what it’s like to have a Mexican striker trained here in Guadalajara,” said Yvey. “This offer was made only to the footballer [Gonzalez] and his entourage, his family, and his talent agency. They didn’t approach Guadalajara directly, only the player.
“It was his decision to say, ‘Thank you, but not for now.’ It was a decision made entirely by the footballer. Armando was the one who had the last word.
“Chivas couldn’t do anything; if they pay the 20 million dollar [release clause], the club can’t say no.
“He was advised by his family, mainly his father, who was also a Chivas player. They decided the best thing was to stay, fulfil his dream while waiting for a spot in the final [Mexico World Cup squad], and wait for the offers that will be presented in the summer.”
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