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Toluca cancels “Morro” Garcia signing, player responds

The Uruguayan had a run in with the law prior to his contract being terminated by Los Diablos Rojos.

By Antonio Tinajero
Banfield v Godoy Cruz - Superliga 2017/18
Garcia looks on during an Argentine Superliga match between Godoy Cruz and Banfield on April 21, 2018.
Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images

Uruguayan footballer Santiago “Morro” Garcia took to Twitter on Dec. 30 to dispute Toluca’s earlier statements about the Godoy Cruz player’s behavior that led to the team cancelling his transfer to the Mexican club.

“It would’ve been an honor, for me, to wear Toluca’s jersey,” Garcia said in the post. “But I also need to deny the statement made by the club, because they made my transfer official without coming to (regrettable for me) an agreement with my current club. I absolutely REJECT the declaration of my lack of ethical conduct. I hope it was just a misunderstanding and I await rectification.”

As a response, Toluca president Francisco Suinaga shrugged off Garcia’s statement that Toluca did not come to an agreement with Godoy Cruz, saying “something does not fit here. I have nothing more to say on this matter, good luck to Santiago and expect news about players that will come to reinforce the team.”

Toluca announced the official signing of Garcia from Godoy Cruz on Dec. 23, but ultimately reversed its decision. The club released an official statement on Dec. 29 announcing that Garcia’s transfer to the club was terminated because of the Uruguayan “not complying with the rules of ethical conduct that marks the institution.”

Although Los Diablos Rojos did not go into detail about their decision, Garcia was in law trouble on Dec. 22 when he was arrested in Mendoza, Argentina, after getting in a car accident while under the influence of alcohol, resulting in a senior citizen of 79 years old suffering a minor injury in the other vehicle, according to RadioFormula.

Garcia’s Audi was confiscated and he received multiple fines for driving under the influence and ignoring signage.

It has been reported that several Argentine clubs such as River Plate, Estudiantes de la Plata and Huracan are now after the Uruguayan forward. The 28-year-old led the Argentine league with 17 goals in the 2017/18 campaign.

Independiente v Deportivo Lara - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2018
Independiente’s Emmanuel Gigliotti is close to becoming Toluca’s new star striker.
Photo by Amilcar Orfali/Getty Images

With a replacement in mind, Toluca is said to be close to an agreement to acquire Argentine forward Emmanuel Gigliotti from Independiente, who is currently leading the Argentine league with 12 goals in 15 appearances.

Follow FMF State of Mind’s transfer tracker for all Liga MX winter transactions ahead of the 2019 Clausura.

You can follow Antonio on Twitter @antonio1998__

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