Cesar “Chelito” Delgado is Coming to Lyon…or Not

By: Inara | December 18th, 2007

Lyon have been keeping tabs on Cruz Azul striker Cesar Delgado for the past few months and recently sent Remi Garde to watch him a few times. It turns out that Garde was so impressed with Delgado that Lyon made an offer for his services.

It’s a bit confusing right now because O Jogo is claiming that Benfica have signed Delgado with a €3.5m offer, but Mexican sources say that Benfica haven’t made an offer. Given that Lyon offered €6m, and given that Delgado wants to learn French and not Portuguese, I’m not sure what to say except that the mass media has less credibility than my sister’s 8th grade newspaper.

This news comes immediately after Lyon’s announcement that one of their strikers might leave (and no, it’s not Karim Benzema). The club wants a finisher more than anything else, as well as someone who wouldn’t mind coming off the bench. I’ll wait until the news is more concrete before talking about Delgado, but I’m not sure if I should be excited or not. I’ve never seen Delgado play except in YouTube clips, and frankly, YouTube can make even Daniel Cousin look like a superstar.

What I do know is that Delgado, an Argentine, is 26 and no longer a prospect. So Lyon would be taking considerable risk because either Delgado acclimates or he doesn’t. But Delgado is hungry for success and has been wanting a move to Europe for a while now. He’s also bothered by the fact that he has yet to win a national title and would like to change that.

We’ll find out more in the coming days. And while we’re waiting…here’s that YouTube video featuring very bad music.

Category: Transfers

Tags: Benfica, Cesar Delgado, Lyon, Transfers

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• Inara |  December 20th, 2007 at 2:21 pm

  
  
  

  Ronan, I wouldn’t write him off just because he plays in Mexico. So did Rafa Marquez, and he’s playing for Barcelona! And don’t forget that one of the hottest gk prospects in Guillermo Ochoa over at Club America (wanted by Man United and Arsenal of all clubs!).

  Posted from United States

  

• carlos |  December 20th, 2007 at 8:09 pm

  
  
  

  RONAN: You are asking if DELGADO could do anything good against clubs like Barcelona….
  DELGADO always seems to be more motivated when he plays against big teams. In other words “He is not intimidated playing against big teams”. With the ARGENTINA national team in CUP AMERICA he played and scored a goal in the final against BRAZIL with ADRIANO,KAKA,RONI and all their stars.

  WHAT CAN CESAR “CHELITO DO AGAINST TEAMS LIKE BARCELONA?
  CESAR is wanted by some clubs because he is a unique player. You cannot find too many like him unless you have 30+ million to pay for a player who allready made a name for himself in europe. I dont know what CESAR can do against teams like Barcelona, but I think he is capable of good things and he will make a difference.

  INARA: It is true that he has been eager to play in europe for at least 2 years. CRUZ AZUL made it really hard for him to have reasonable offers in Europe. Of course why would they let go the best player in the league.

  Now that he only has 6 months of contract, the team is taking offers for him because they want their part of the share.

  LUCIANO FIGUEROA who was his partner in CRUZ AZUL went to SPAIN’S VILLAREAL but did not do well because he is mostly a good header without much speed, passing technique or control of the ball.

  JARED BORGHETTI who I think is a waste of money for cruz azul played in BOLTON WANDERERS and this was also a disaster because he has no speed or control of the ball.

  KIKIN FONSECA played in BENFICA and failed because he is only important for marketing purposes. KIKIN is only good for telemarketing purposes. He is currently a bench warmer in mexico.

  Posted from United States

  

• ronan |  December 20th, 2007 at 11:43 pm

  
  
  

  well wot about
  a.mido
  b.bianchi
  c.vagner love
  d.utaka
  e.diego milito

  a.escude
  b.bonera
  c.burdisso
  e.puygrenier

  Posted from

  

• ronan |  December 20th, 2007 at 11:43 pm

  
  
  

  the layers i just said tick them off 1 by 1

  Posted from

  

• ronan |  December 21st, 2007 at 9:52 am

  
  
  

  parham reh!

  Posted from

  

• JUAN |  December 24th, 2007 at 8:25 pm

  
  
  

  JUST WAIT AND SEE…. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. PERSONALLY I THINK ‘CHELITO’ IS PAST HIS PRIME.

  Posted from United States

  

• mrs todd |  December 27th, 2007 at 4:00 am

  
  
  

  i think this is a done deal now

  Posted from

  

• damien |  December 28th, 2007 at 4:13 am

  
  
  

  HOLA CARLOS

  thanks alot for your contributions we learned alot about our future player thanks to you.

  i’ve got one question concerning his position on the pitch: i’ve heard he could play either on the right flank or either in an attacking position… if so, which does he prefer?
  could he possibly play in center middfield a bit like juninho cause he’s a bit of an all round player like him(good strike, good passes, good dribling, good at free kicks…), could he be juninho’s successor?????

  Posted from France

  

• damien |  December 28th, 2007 at 4:13 am

  
  
  

  thanks

  Posted from France

  

• Inara |  December 28th, 2007 at 12:10 pm

  
  
  

  Well, this transfer is pretty much a done deal. Damien, I think Lyon are bringing in Delgado as cover for Keita, who will be departing for the African Cup of Nations soon. I don’t think Delgado is a playmaker. But people have been saying that Delgado’s technical abilities are a lot like Juninho’s, which is a very good thing indeed.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ronan |  December 28th, 2007 at 12:24 pm

  
  
  

  yer but then if fred leaves who is the striker coming in?

  Posted from

  

• Ronan |  December 28th, 2007 at 12:40 pm

  
  
  

  [inara im not some fraudster by the way this is my sons computer so im a dedicated fan and just wanted to comment not wright you lot e3mails-im genuine honestly and id appreciate it if you will still let me use your site-i promise the childish name secrecy will stop}

  Posted from

  

• Ronan |  December 28th, 2007 at 12:43 pm

  
  
  

  just think roma got beat 7-1 with mexes and chivu in defence-2 of the best we have to face a stronger attack this year with anderson and squillaci and two strikers at the moment!

  Posted from

  

• Ush |  December 28th, 2007 at 2:44 pm

  
  
  

  Few things there:
  1. We shouldn’t be looking to Roma for any sort of inspiration, albeit beating us to get there, that was the furthest they’ve ever got in the CL, Lyon have been there a few times and lost from even favourable positions.
  2. Roma didn’t show up, Carrick got a brace, ’nuff said.
  3. Lyon are finding there feet slowly it seems and hopefully will sign a class centre back.

  Posted from

  

• Edwin |  December 31st, 2007 at 3:47 pm

  
  
  

  HEY HEY HEY!! i need you guys to tell me how “Chelito” (Cesar Delgado) is doing over there in France while he is in Lyon.

  I think his a great player and we will miss him a lot in Cruz Azul and the Mexican League.

  I hope he helps the team accomplish its goals and that i can see him play again someday.

  thanks!

  Posted from

  

• Jeff |  January 8th, 2008 at 12:42 pm

  
  
  

  erm ush – roma have been to the european cup final before…

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Inara |  January 8th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

  
  
  

  In the CL, it was in the early 80s, and in the UEFA Cup, in the early 90s. So that was a long time ago. Lyon’s accomplishments in Europe in recent years are more significant than theirs.

  Posted from United States

  

• Storm |  January 9th, 2008 at 5:37 am

  
  
  

  The OL website have now posted that Delgado has now arrived in Lyon for his medical and is expected to sign a three and a half year contract tomorrow.

  Posted from France

  

• joelmm |  January 10th, 2008 at 1:23 am

  
  
  

  guys, come on, Chelito never never win anything in Mexico.He is a great player, but, Cruz Azul bring him to mexican soccer as STAR, but he didnt do ANYTHING for Cruz AZul. For him I think it was only a step to jump in Europe because he is not good enough to get pick straigt from Argentina

  Posted from United States

  

• joelmm |  January 10th, 2008 at 1:38 am

  
  
  

  do you guys think he will make a diference in france? need to see it to believe it!

  Posted from United States

  

• css,xml and java |  January 11th, 2008 at 11:17 pm

  
  
  

  Chelito was an explosive player at one point but do to his tendency to get injured he mau not be a reliable player for a team that might need a player that can carry a team on his shoulders. He does posses good dribbling skills but he is not a leader, I hope he does become a great player in the French league but I am most certain he wil be back in Mexico in two or three seasons.

  Posted from United States

  

• sergio |  January 15th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

  
  
  

  delgado is one of the best players that has arrived in mexico and trust me mexican teams dont suck he is a great player and i guranted that if the coach gives him play time in less than a year barcelona or another great team will be after him if lyon has a good striker delgado will make him the guy with most goals on the league

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• sergio |  January 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

  
  
  

  i am sergio again and for ur that asking why dint he leave earlier to europe the reason is because cruz azul has not been champion in 10 years and the president of cruz azul tought delgado woul help the team b champs wich he did alot but coaches and some other players dint suck but just were not for the team

  Posted from

  

• Conchtia |  March 20th, 2008 at 11:55 am

  
  
  

  TE AMO CHELITO!!!!

  Posted from United States

  

• cruz azulino de corazon |  April 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm

  
  
  

  jajaja ahorita esta valiendo caca en francia el wei anda chillando que se quiere regresar a mexico

  Posted from

  

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