Re-building Juárez

Analyzing the Juárez squad after their best-ever Liga MX season, and signings to strengthen for the future

Author

Tom Harrison
June 24, 2025

Data from Wyscout, FBRef, Golstats and Fotmob, photo from Imagosport.

In this series of articles, I’m analyzing the current situation of a few teams, their squads, and profiles that they should be looking at to improve in the future. The fifth team is FC Juárez.

This article/series is inspired by articles from https://www.thetransferflow.com/

The situation

Following their best ever Liga MX season, Juárez finally have something to build around. However, it won’t be easy to replicate their success during the previous campaign, as Juárez won four points more than was expected given their underlying performances. Los Bravos made the most of tight matches, with few chances for and against, to build a healthy points total. No one drew more than Juárez (6), whilst only one of their victories came by more than one goal.

With an average of 2.18 total goals, Juárez matches contained fewer goals than any other team in Clausura 2025, a direct result of Martín Varini’s style of play. Under the Argentine, Juárez have showed more patience to build-up attacks, rather than playing vertically and attempting to exploit counter-attacks, tending to slow their matches down. Out of possession, the team can press well at times, but will quickly drop back and attempt to prevent opposition chance creation.

To develop their style, Juárez have to create more box entries, improve their ball retention, and reduce the quality of chances created by opponents (xG per shot against).

Percentile ranks vs other teams | Better ranking | Worse ranking

Varini, 33, has a flexible system that moves into different structures depending on the phase of play. A back-four, on paper, becomes a back-three in deep build-up, with the left-back becoming a third center-back and the right-back inverting into a central midfield role. When defending deeper, a winger will occupy a wing-back role, and create a back-five that reduces gaps between the defenders.

An example of Juárez’s back-five, with winger José Luis Rodríguez dropping back

Juárez have also adjusted their pressing structures during Clausura 2025, finding a better solution against opposing back-threes, and Varini has switched around the positioning of his wingers and interior midfielders. Therefore, he may desire more flexible profiles, and certainly requires players with the mentality to work hard out of possession. Juárez need to build beyond the immediate future of Varini though, and make smarter decisions than they have in the past. A lot of investment hasn’t led to much success on the pitch.

The defensive tactics behind Juárez's success

Los Bravos have reached more than 20 points for the first time

cambiodejuegoenglish.beehiiv.com/p/the-defensive-tactics-behind-ju-rez-s-success

Goalkeepers: Juarez can stick with Jurado

Sebastián Jurado has had a few struggles when trying to play out from the back, however, his ability to make saves has been around, or better than, league average of the past two years. So it doesn’t seem a major issue to stick with Jurado in goal.

Benny Díaz is an interesting goalkeeper, and is better than Jurado both with his feet and at sweeping off his line. However, he conceded far more goals than would be expected, according to the xG post-shot model, during Apertura 2024. He can stay on the bench, or perhaps get more experience with a loan move in the Liga de Expansión.

Center-backs: Should look to strengthen their depth

Whilst Varini’s tactical ideas have been a key factor in Juárez’s defensive success, the center-back pair have also made noteworthy contributions. Moisés Mosquera is the star in the back-line, and one of few effective investments from Juárez in recent years. Mosquera is physically dominant, good at generating ball recoveries, and has improved in possession under Varini’s coaching. Jesús Murillo isn’t quite as good on the ball, but excels in the air and defends the box well.

Juárez could do with a better third choice though. Haret Ortega played just 113 minutes under Varini, and whilst he could be a useful center-back, Varini probably doesn’t consider the Mexican to have enough quality on the ball. José Juan García was the backup for Murillo, and had to play a considerable amount of minutes, but isn’t really good enough for the top division. Juárez should be able to find an upgrade, but will have target a Mexican to avoid using up a third foreign player spot at center-back.

The concept analysis combines multiple metrics to quickly analyze key concepts for each position and role

The experienced option

Jordan Silva has long been underrated in his own country, but his success in Europe must be recognized. Silva started 20 times in the Greek Super League this season, helping his team, OFI Crete, to an eighth place finish and a spot in the Greek Cup final.

Silva is now 30, and therefore isn’t a long-term solution, and may not want to leave one of Greece’s most famous islands, but he’s good enough to even displace Murillo from a starting spot. Comfortable on both sides, excellent in the air and in defensive duels, Silva also has enough talent on the ball to help build attacks.

The post-injury risk

Luis Olivas suffered a cruciate ligament injury and hasn’t played for almost a year, therefore it would be a risk to invest in the player. However, Juárez can afford a risk given that they don’t lack center-back options. Plus Olivas is still only 25.

Olivas isn’t the most mobile defender, but he could work well with Los Bravos as a Murillo replacement, given his aerial strength and ball progression abilities.

The U23 options

If Juárez are happy to take a risk with their signing, but want more potential long-term upside, there are a few U23 center-backs to analyze in more detail.

Tigres’ Israel Aceves is a center-back who’s stood-out a lot in the Liga MX academy divisions. Aceves is only 19 but has been excellent in the U23 league. Aggressive, strong in duels and in the air, and comfortable on the ball, he looks ready to take the next step in his career. Oliver Iriarte, 21, from Tijuana, is another aggressive center-back that’s shown the potential to reach the professional game, given to his metrics in Liga MX youth football.

I’ve studied historic cases of players that have, and haven’t, made it to Liga MX, looking at their data in different academy categories, per position and role. My study found that it’s possible to generate percentage probabilities (or confidence intervals) that a player will end up receiving a decent amount of minutes in Liga MX. Get in touch if your club would like to better understand the potential of their academy players.

Antonio Leone, 21, has played four matches in Liga MX with Rayados, and whilst he isn’t an aggressive center-back who consistently contests duels, Leone is effective at defending his penalty area and winning balls in the air. Leone also has a positive impact in possession. A similar type of center-back, but with more Liga MX experience, is América’s Miguel Vázquez. His lack of aggression to jump and press out of possession is a worry, but there are fewer doubts of the 21 year old’s level, given his minutes in Liga MX. Juárez could explore loan deals with buy options, and find a longer-term solution to cover the center-back positions, with a stronger Mexican.

Full-backs: Options to replace Orquín

Denzell García has successfully transitioned to a right-back, and Juárez will hope to hold onto him this summer, but left-back is a priority for Los Bravos this summer, with Ralph Orquín returning to Club América. In Varini’s flexible system, his left-back must have a more defensive profile, with the ability to help in build-up alongside the center-backs. Therefore, Juárez could look for a more defensive full-back or a left-footed center-back.

Whilst they shouldn’t just be building for Varini, using this profile of left-back does seem a reasonable long-term decision, given the options on the market, with many sides looking for more attacking players in the position.

The ideal option

Jesús Alejandro Gómez, from Tijuana, looks like the best possible signing for this role. Gómez is only 23 and been one of Xolos’ stand-out players during recent seasons, with almost 3,000 minutes in 2024-25.

Highly aggressive, and effective, out of possession, Gómez has experienced different roles under Juan Carlos Osorio. His age profile is excellent, he’s good enough in build-up, and can play both the defensive full-back role, invert to move into midfield, or cover the left-center-back position.

The direct Orquín replacement

A more similar player to Orquín, and likely cheaper than Gómez, is Aldo Cruz from Atlético San Luis. At 27, Cruz still has some peak years ahead, has played as a left-back or wide center-back, and is fairly effective at generating ball progression.

Like Orquín, Cruz is less aggressive out of possession than Gómez, and therefore isn’t the best option to develop Juárez’s pressing game and time required to recover the ball. However, Cruz could slot in and replace much of Orquín’s impact.

The loan option

A loan deal worked with Orquín, and Juárez have also found success with young Chivas players in the past. Therefore, Daniel Flores looks like a good option. A Mexican-American, who developed with Real Salt Lake before arriving at Chivas, Flores has shown excellent abilities in build-up play with Tapatío in the Liga de Expansión.

At 22, Flores could still develop in future years, and offers defensive solidity, although he could be more aggressive when pressing opponents. A loan with a buy option would be a great deal.

The defensive option

Salvador Manríquez’s level with Celaya suggests he could make the step-up to Liga MX. Manríquez, 25, is a tall player, that can play at left-back or center-back.

There are doubts surrounding his ability on the ball, given that a player’s output in possession normally drops between the Liga de Expansión and Liga MX, but Manríquez frequently wins the ball back for his side. Historically, this ability hasn’t fluctuated too much when players move up to Liga MX.

Defensive midfielders: Juárez can let Campillo go, and improve the position

Diego Campillo, who played more than 1,000 minutes in the Juárez midfield during Clausura 2025, is linked with a more to Chivas this summer. Campillo was a great ball winner during 2024-25, but his impact in possession is over-rated.

A replacement would be needed if Campillo moves back to Chivas. Jonathan González is a decent backup, but nothing more.

Saminu Abdullah is an interesting player. The Nigerian defensive midfielder showed a good level before arriving in Mexico, but with few minutes played, and Abdullahi only managed 56 minutes with Juárez after a winter transfer.

The possible swap deal

I’ve already mentioned Brandon Téllez a couple of times in these re-building articles, but he could also be a great solution for Juárez. Téllez was outstanding for Tapatío, and I would explore a possible deal for him and Daniel Flores if Chivas are very keen on Campillo. It wouldn’t just be a two for one deal, plus some potential cash, Juárez may actually be getting an upgrade on Campillo.

The option to improve their in possession game

Mazatlán’s Alan Torres is excellent in deep build-up, combining good ball retention with progressive passes and longer switches of play. At just 25, Torres still has many peak years ahead of him and could therefore be a great longer-term investment, if Juárez want to continue with a more patient in possession approach.

Torres isn’t as good out of possession, and may require more energy around him, but can still make a decent amount of ball recoveries in a holding midfield/pivot role.

The short-term option

Another Chivas player that Juárez could include in a deal for Campillo is Fernando “Oso” González. His age is a worry, at 31, and therefore his defensive output will probably drop in upcoming tournaments. However, his impact is so high right now than he could still be an above-average defensive midfielder in Liga MX for, at least, another year or two.

A defensive specialist, González has many years of experience in the same role that Campillo played in; protecting the space in front of the back-line, using his aerial game to defend balls into the box and playing as a pivot in possession. Juárez would just have to be careful about the length of contract offered (one year plus another optional year would be ideal, three years would be too long).

Attacking-midfielders: A key area to improve

Without doubt a position that Juárez could improve, to create more ball progression and chance creation from the center of the pitch. Los Bravos have built more attacks out wide, have generated more box entries via crosses, and tend to cross from wide areas, where there’s a lower probability of creating goal-scoring chances from.

From a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 base, Varini uses two advanced midfielders in possession, occupying the half-spaces, with Campillo plus the inverted Denzell García covering behind. Guilherme Castilho played almost 1,300 minutes in Clausura 2025 in one of the advanced roles, but didn’t offer that much.

Jairo Torres was used centrally in the last seven games of the season, but struggled out of possession. Dieter Villalpando is still playing at a good level, but has now passed his best years.

The option to improve final third output

Juárez can develop their central progression with a better in possession holding midfielder than Campillo, and therefore could target a more creative player in the final third, who can operate effectively between the lines.

Fortaleza’s Luis Sánchez, 24, fits this profile. The Colombian’s dribbling and ball carrying could provide Juárez another method of breaking down a defense, and Sánchez is capable of both playing the final pass and getting into the box to shoot.

The option to improve ball progression

Nicolás Árelavo, from Millonarios, looks a very interesting prospect. At just 22, Árevalo is already excellent when his side is in possession, and his ability to get on the ball could prove key to Juárez improving their central ball progression. 

Árevalo may not be best suited to Varini’s more rigid in possession structure though, given that the Colombian likes to roam between deeper and more advanced midfield positions.

The option that could get more out of Guilherme

It’s possible that Guilherme’s output has dropped in Mexico (he produced more in Brazil) by occupying the right-half-space more than the left-half-space in Varini’s positional attacks. Alex Franco, from Olimpia in Paraguay, plays more in the right-half-space, and could offer a great creative threat whilst allowing Guilherme to move back to the position that he occupied in Brazil.

At 23, Franco is close to his peak age, but his lack of defensive work is a concern.

Wingers: Juárez didn’t need any new signings, but have two

A stronger position for Juárez. José Luis Rodriguez has normally been key to Juárez’s flexibility, playing in the wing-back role out of possession and creating a back-five. Madson, from both flanks, isn’t a high touch player, but has been efficient at creating a goal threat. Torres is a good backup, young Jaime Álvarez deserves more minutes, and we’ll see if Diego Valoyes can return after persistent injury problems.

Juárez didn’t need to strengthen the position, and they certainly didn’t need, possibly, the worst winger in Liga MX during 2024-25. Rodolfo Pizarro may still demand a high salary, and could turn out to be the worst signing of the summer.

Ricardinho, 26, showed a great ability to get shots off from central zones and inside the box during 2024-25. However, the winger did out-score his xG this season with Santa Clara, and hasn’t shown many other strengths in the Portuguese first or second divisions. Ricardinho could make an impact for Juárez, but doesn’t seem a necessary signing.

Strikers: Zaldívar shouldn’t be playing so many minutes

Martín Varini shared around the striker minutes between Óscar Estupiñán and Ángel Zaldívar during Clausura 2025, and both players have their limits. Estupiñán is better in the air, and could generate more dangerous shots than Zaldívar.

Zaldívar helps more out of possession, which is important for a team like Juárez, especially under Varini. However, his overall game isn’t good enough if Los Bravos want to keep competing for the play-offs.

Finding a complete striker is difficult, but someone that works hard out of possession, like Zaldívar, whilst providing a better reference in attack should be Juárez’s aim this summer. Also, it’s important that Juárez don’t make the same errors that we’ve seen in the past. One big investment is risky, and isn’t likely to dramatically improve their attacking efficiency. Also, Los Bravos must avoid giving more large wage packets to post-peak attackers.

The Mexican option

Illian Hernández hasn’t had many opportunities in recent seasons with Pachuca and América, but his profile could work for Juárez. Illian offers an aerial presence and is highly experienced in an intense pressing system, under Guillermo Almada, so his defensive work rate shouldn’t be a problem.

At 25, Hernández has a good age profile, especially as strikers can peak a little later in their careers. We’ve seen many cases of Mexican strikers developing their goal-scoring and back-to-goal game in their late 20s.

The physical presence

Gustavo Coutinho is a Brazilian striker who combines the strengths of both Estupiñán and Zaldívar. Coutinho, 26, is a good physical presence, who also works hard out of possession.

The Coritiba striker only has experience in the second level of Brazilian football, and his goal output could drop a little in Liga MX, but the standard of Serie B isn’t too bad.

The option to improve their build-up

One alternative for Juárez to develop their central progression is to look for a striker with more movement towards the ball, and a greater ability to connect attacks. Iván Romero, 24, doesn’t have a significant physical presence, and wouldn’t be great at getting on the end of crosses, but he gets more touches per game and creates more for his teammates.

The complete option?

Los Bravos have looked at different markets in recent years, and the women’s team have had great success with African signings. So Guinean Ousmane Camara, who excelled in La Liga 2 during 2024-25, could be an possible addition.

Camara combined good back-to-goal play and intensity out of possession with impressive output in the final third. Poor finishing limited his goal numbers, however, Camara proved to be an effective finisher in 2023-24 whilst playing in Ligue 2 and his lack of goals may reduce his price tag. At just 23, he also has time to develop, so whilst Camara may be seen as more of a risk, he could prove to be a complete number nine for Juárez.

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