⚡ Necaxa's Heriberto Jurado eyeing Rayos stardom, jump to Europe as Clausura begins
An exclusive interview with one of Mexico's most electrifying rising stars
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The hype. The pressure. The expectations. They’re enough to derail a player’s career, or at least force it through a detour.
That’s especially true in a country like Mexico, soccer-obsessed and desperate for the next big thing to come through. Despite winning an Olympic gold medal and celebrating other youth triumphs, El Tri has seen prospect after prospect fall short of projections.
Necaxa’s rising star Heriberto Jurado is determined to make sure he lives up to the hype.
When the Liga MX Clausura kicks off Friday with Necaxa playing host to Atlético San Luis (8p ET, TUDN), Jurado wants to be on the field showing that he’s worth the attention.
So far, he’s not feeling a crush despite being named to The Guardian’s Next Generation list, earning a nod for the Liga MX All-Star team and suiting up with Mexico’s U-20 squad as a 17-year-old.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure at all. On the contrary, it motivates me and helps me grow, both as a player and as a person who wants to improve every day,” he told me on a Zoom yesterday, his 18th birthday. “I want my career to continue on like this and have this desire to go for more, to be a winner.”
Jurado definitely hasn’t looked bothered by outside praise. A shifty, left-footed winger who wants to take defenders on and either cross or find a shooting opportunity, he shows glimpses of looking like some of Mexico’s top attackers of the past and present.
“I love having the ball and going against the opponent, beating him one on one,” Jurado said. “It’s something that … I don’t know how to explain it to you. I love it. I love that aspect. I love to push past guys, send in a cross. I love having the ball, playing with it and making magic.”
Those magical moments have turned the heads of both fans and coaches. Jurado debuted in Liga MX at age 16 and already has already played than 1,000 first-team minutes. Last season, manager Jaime Lozano deployed the winger as a jolt for the attack. He started one game but saw time in a dozen.
The style also is getting looks from clubs outside Mexico. While some corners of Mexican soccer are currently debating the merits of pushing for a move to a European club, Jurado very much has his eyes set on making a move abroad.
“I think for me and for a lot of Mexicans, the dream is to go to Europe,” Jurado said. “It’s a very clear goal, and a goal that I’m very focused on. It’s one of my goals to go to Europe, to take this big leap.
“First of all, obviously, it’s about crushing it here at the club, having a lot of minutes, participate a lot, grow my stats and with that take this leap that, for me, is a dream and a very, very, very clear goal.”
But he also knows those opportunties to shine abroad won’t come if he isn’t taking care of business where he’s at now.
Jurado said he and his teammates are enjoying working with new Necaxa manager Andres Lillini, who joined from Pumas in the offseason, and have a community of players that push each other to get better.
The teenager said he could list off Necaxa teammates who have helped him or who he can go to for a word of advice, but the club has an atmosphere in which all veteran players are open to assisting.
And Jurado feels like he owes a big debt to Necaxa. The club discovered him when he went to a tournament as a 13-year-old, and he’s been in Aguascalientes ever since. Now, he hopes to repay the club for the belief and development.
“I have very clear goals for this season: Increasing the minutes I play on the field, increasing my stats in goals and assists and finish off the best season possible,” he said.
With Lillini at the helm, Jurado pushing for more time and most of the core that landed in the playoffs with a 12th-place finish in the Apertura, Necaxa is hoping to, as Jurado says, “go for everything this tournament.”
That’s where Jurado’s head is at, looking to achieve bigger and bigger things as he grows, and dealing with the pressure as it comes.
The full Q+A is available below for premium subscribers:
Liga MX lookahead
The starting weekend is here, with every team believing they can make the (expansive) playoffs and push for bigger things than they accomplished last season.
The slate
All times p.m. ET, TV for United States
Friday
Necaxa-San Luis, 8, TUDN
Mazatlán-León, 10:10, ViX+
Saturday
América-Queretaro, 6, Univision/TUDN
Atlas-Toluca, 8:10, Univision/TUDN
Monterrey-Chivas, 10:10, FS2/Fox Deportes
Sunday
Pumas-Juarez, 1, Vix+
Santos Laguna-Tigres, 8, FS1/Fox Deportes
Tijuana-Cruz Azul, 10:10, ESPN+/ESPN Deportes (Still looking for confirmation of this, but I think that’s where you’ll find it)
Monday
Pachuca-Puebla, 10:10, TUDN
Jon’s weekend hat trick: I’m obviously excited for Jurado and Necaxa in the opener going against Atlético San Luis - one of my five most interesting teams heading into the tournament. That may be a hipster’s favorite, though.
The Game of the Weekend is probably Santos Laguna vs. Tigres. The northern clubs always get after it a bit, and both will be eager to prove they’re improved after last season’s early playoff exits. It’s the early return to Torreon for ex-Santos midfielder Fernando Gorriarán.
Rayados-Chivas on Saturday night featuring the regular season Liga MX debut of new manager Veljko Paunović after a strong preseason should be a good one.
So too will some Monday Night Futbol with the reigning champions going against a Puebla team desperate not to slip up despite an offseason exodus.
We’ll wrap the weekend on Monday and also have the Conca-catch-up. Chat then!