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'A move he wanted to make': Crew GM Issa Tall shares details on Cucho Hernandez transfer
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- 'A move he wanted to make': Crew GM Issa Tall shares details on Cucho Hernandez transfer
When Issa Tall first met Cucho Hernandez , his pitch for the then 23-year-old to join the Crew was direct - become the club's star player, receive Colombia national team call-ups and possibly return to Europe if the opportunity was right.
That was in 2022, when Hernandez was playing for Watford FC, a club about to be relegated from the Premier League to EFL Championship.
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Tall was an assistant general manager under Tim Bezbatchenko at the time, and his efforts helped convince Hernandez to sign with Columbus as a designated player for around $2.88 million.
In two-plus seasons with Columbus, Hernandez checked off most of Tall's pitch. He quickly solidified himself as the face of the club and returned to the Colombian national team for the first time as an MLS player in January 2023.
So, when La Liga's Real Betis recently made an offer for Hernandez, it opened the opportunity for Tall to complete his promise to Hernandez.
"It's almost like a prophecy. Everything happened," Tall said. "But as soon as this club came about, Cucho himself asked us to consider it, because it's a move he wants to make.
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"He told me the reason afterward, but I cannot blame him because it's an offer from a club that's arguably top six (in the league). In my opinion, (the league) is top in the world, if not second in the world."
Why did Issa Tall feel the transfer of Cucho Hernandez to Real Betis made sense?
The transfer created waves in a quiet first offseason for Tall since taking over for Bezbatchenko in June. There was just one signing from outside the club and three players departed or were transferred before the Hernandez move.
While three months passed, outside interest for Hernandez was ramping up.
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"We essentially always said no (to other teams)," Tall said. "We knew they were not the leagues that he would be interested in, despite us making money − a lot more than we did on this transfer − because we knew Cucho didn't want to."
Cucho Hernandez is introduced to Columbus by Crew assistant general manager Issa Tall on July 3, 2022.
Tall said Hernandez was going to leave only if the opportunity was right.
With one season left on Hernandez's contract, and a club option, there was no new deal presented to Hernandez from the Crew when Real Betis made its offer.
"We always had open discussion with Cucho, and it was only a matter of time," Tall said. "We had another two years of his contract. We were all pretty positive. ... At the end of the day, when it comes to Betis, I think whether he had six months left or he had a 10-year long contract, he would have asked to go."
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La Liga was on the list of leagues Hernandez expressed interest in joining.
La Liga is a top soccer league in Spain with historic clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona . There was a specific draw to Real Betis that Tall learned Hernandez had in one of their final conversations.
"When everything was getting finalized, I went on a walk with him for 30 minutes, which was a bit emotional," Tall said. "And he shared with me how Betis, in particular, is a club he's always admired. When he played in Spain, it's a stadium and fans that really resonated with him."
Hernandez played in Real Betis' home stadium, Estadio Benito Villamarin, while on loan from Watford to SC Huesca in 2018.
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How did Issa Tall, Columbus Crew land on the $16 million transfer fee for Cucho Hernandez?
Tall claims there were "hard negotiations" between the Crew and Real Betis, which first made an offer lower than the $16 million transfer fee that was agreed on.
Cucho Hernandez celebrates his goal against Liga MX in the MLS All-Star game.
Negotiations started just three days remaining in La Liga's transfer window. Before that, Real Betis had only expressed interest in Hernandez, but there was no offer.
Tall said the deal falls in line with how he wants to treat players.
"It's so obvious that this is an opportunity that may only come once," Tall said. "We don't want to jeopardize anything for the club. It doesn't make sense, we don't do it no matter what. But at the end of the day, if we can find a way, then we would do it."
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Did the Colombian national team play a role in Cucho Hernandez being transferred to La Liga?
Hernandez received three national team call-ups last year , though his playing time was limited.
In September, Hernandez failed to dress for both games Colombia played. When Hernandez returned, he explained to Tall one of the reasons.
"What he was saying is the lack of consideration and respect toward our league and the players in our league," Tall said. "He's not the only one who said that. I have another player who said the same about his own national team."
Crew forward Cucho Hernandez dribbles against the New York Red Bulls.
Of the starters from the last game Colombia played, none play in MLS.
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Tall suggested that Hernandez's national team hopes played a role in wanting to compete in Spain.
"For sure, him being in a top-two league in the world, he'll have his chances to get back to the national team," Tall said. "And let's be honest, the World Cup is in less than 18 month, and hopefully performing at Betis, it's an automatic ticket to the World Cup."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Cucho Hernandez transfer explained by Columbus Crew GM Issa Tall
