Erik Lira’s signing with Monaco fell through in the final minutes before the French transfer window closed, after the French club was unable to free up a non-EU spot in time to register the Mexican midfielder.
Lira and Cruz Azul had practically agreed on all terms to finalize the transfer to the Ligue 1 club. However, the lack of an available spot ultimately prevented the deal from being completed before the French transfer window closed on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. Mexico time.
The spot Monaco needed to free up would, in theory, be that of Folarin Balogun. Since the move did not go through in time, Lira’s signing could not be finalized.
Erik Lira still has options in Europe
Although the deal with Monaco fell through, Erik Lira still has alternatives to continue his career in Europe this summer. The Cruz Azul midfielder had other options on the table, although the French club was always his top priority.
With the transfer window now closed in France, some of those possibilities are gaining traction again. One of them is in Russian soccer. In addition, Premier League club Sunderland was interested in the Mexican midfielder, although time ran out for the move to materialize.
Lira caught the attention of various European clubs after standing out with Mexico in the last World Cup. His performance also sparked interest from teams in Saudi Arabia. Now, the midfielder is hoping that in the final hours, an opportunity will arise that will allow him to achieve his goal of playing in Europe.
Cruz Azul had already confirmed the sale
Víctor Velázquez, president of Cruz Azul, had previously confirmed the sale of Erik Lira to Monaco. The executive acknowledged that the negotiations had been delayed but noted that the club had improved upon the terms of the initial offer and fulfilled its commitment to the player.
During the presentation of “Nación Azul,” a program designed to recognize Cruz Azul fans around the world, Velázquez explained that Cruz Azul was willing to support Lira’s desire to play in Europe. The executive also acknowledged that the negotiations had been delayed, but noted that the ultimate problem stemmed from Monaco’s lack of a non-EU player slot.
The deal, which seemed set to take Erik Lira to French soccer, ultimately fell through in the final minutes of the transfer window.
