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Mexico international Erik Lira's failed move 'very sad' to Monaco CEO
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- Mexico international Erik Lira's failed move 'very sad' to Monaco CEO
AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro says he is "very sad" after the club was unable to add Mexico international Erik Lira in the summer transfer window.
The Ligue 1 team was ready to bring in the Cruz Azul player, having agreements with both Lira and La Maquina, but couldn't finish off the move when the European squad couldn't free up a non-EU player slot on its roster.
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United States international Folarin Balogun was set to move to Everton, but the forward walked away from the deal after frustration with the medical and how the transfer was being handled . That meant the places remained occupied, and Lira was unable to make the move.
"Very sad yesterday (because of) the situation with Erik Lira, by our relation with Cruz Azul, which I want to really thank them and appreciate the way they deal everything with us," Scuro said at a news conference Wednesday, Sept. 2. "The deal was ready, the player was ready to travel. Everything was absolutely pressing one button, but was mandatory on the agreement that Balo goes to open the foreign spot, and because of that, we were not able to to bring Erik Lira, which was our desire.
"I really hope that (he finds) a good and strong step in a top level in Europe. He deserves, amazing person all the interactions we had, and this was part of the sad events that we had yesterday to face. Having to call the player and say 'I'm sorry. We couldn't make it,' as a human is a very hard part of the job, of the transfer window."
Monaco also was expected to accept a bid from Chelsea for Senegal international Lamine Camara, but that deal also fell through.
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The director left the door open on bringing Lira in during December but underlined that there is no obligation for the midfielder or Cruz Azul to wait on Monaco for a potential move.
"It depends on several things. We are not in a position to ask them to wait, keep holding," Scuro said. "But for sure, he's a player that has our attention and respect."
What will Erik Lira do now after the failed Monaco move?
Lira had interest from Abu Dhabi club Al-Jazira this summer but said he was more interested in a European move. That move either will have to wait or be to a country like Turkey where the transfer window remains open.
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He also could stay on with Cruz Azul, where he won the Liga MX title in the spring – though Lira was already with the Mexico national team preparing for the World Cup for the playoffs.
Cruz Azul currently sits outside the playoff places in Liga MX but beat Necaxa 3-1 over the weekend to snap a three-match losing skid. Lira didn't feature in that contest.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexico international Erik Lira's failed move 'very sad' to Monaco CEO
