Atletico San Luis strike it big by acquiring forward Mauro Quiroga

Atletico San Luis made their biggest signing so far in the off-season, acquiring forward Mauro Quiroga from Necaxa. Quiroga had been the co-scoring champion in the Apertura 2019, scoring 12 goals and tying Chivas striker Alan Pulido with 12 goals. Quiroga was a key figure in Necaxa’s recent success and is one of the better arrivals recently in Liga MX, so the switch seems to be a big boost for San Luis and for Coach Guillermo Vasquez, who was Necaxa’s coach in the Apertura 2019.

Mauro Quiroga came through the youth system of the team from his hometown in Argentina, Concepcion. After a spell in the team (Gimnasia Concepcion), he moved to Spain, where he would have a short career in the Spanish second division. His first time in Spain was with UD Las Palmas of the second division. After a short successful spell he would move to CD Lugo and then Deportivo Alaves, both of Spain’s second division. After his time in Alaves, Quiroga returned to Argentina where he would have spells in various teams. He would play in Atletico Rafaela, then return with Concepcion, then San Martin de Tucuman, and finally with Argentino Juniors. Besides Tucuman, the majority of his play was unsuccessful. Quiroga got loaned out to Curicu Unido in Chile and there he finally had a breakthrough. His level of play brought the attention of Necaxa, who brought him to Mexico. Like many of the recent signings of Necaxa, not much noise was expected from Quiroga but he would win a scoring title and help his team qualify for the Liguilla. Last season he didn’t have as good a start, but the tournament had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 emergency.

Quiroga is an interesting signing. A player who had some experience in Spain but a very bad record during his time in Argentina, which means that he had fewer credentials than other signings. His short time in Chile meant that he had an upside that a team like Necaxa was able to notice. Necaxa has recently continued the tradition of some Mexican teams who are experts on signing talented players who fly under the radar. Teams like Atlante, Pachuca, and Atlas had this tradition, and Necaxa had firmly established themselves as the newest side to follow this pattern. Atletico San Luis meanwhile has been making a point of going through Necaxa. First it was the signing of Coach Guillermo Vasquez and now the addition of ex-Necaxa players like Rodrigo Noya and Quiroga, who have joined trying to build on Necaxa’s Apertura 2019 success.