After leaving Cruz Azul, what has happened with Orbelín Pineda in Spain?

After he became one of the key players for Juan Reynoso a year ago, when Cruz Azul was able to break a 23-year drought without a Liga MX title, Orbelín Pineda’s career has changed dramatically since his departure from La Máquina.

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Once Apertura 2021 was over, so was Pineda’s contract with Los Cementeros, and even if they tried to negotiate a contract extension with him, he decided to leave both Cruz Azul and Liga MX, as he felt it was time for him to try his luck in Europe.

Pineda signed a five-year contract with La Liga side Celta de Vigo during the first week of the winter transfer window, although he didn’t, although it took him over a month to debut in the Spanish top flight, where he played 28 minutes against Levante UD.

Since then, Orbelín Pineda has played in four more games, all of them as a substitute, given that Eduardo “Chacho” Coudet, Celta’s coach, has said in the past that the Mexico international doesn’t have a place on his roster.

His bad luck continues

When asked about the future of Orbelín Pineda in Celta de Vigo, Coudet answered that he hadn’t request his addition given that the team already had good players on the position that he plays, and it had been Carlos Mouriño, the club’s president, who decided to sign him.

And now that Coudet has signed a contract extension of two more years to remain in Celta de Vigo’s dugout, the options for the 26-year-old left-winger to earn regularity with the Celtistas are looking inexistent.

For now, Pineda has a few options if he wants to earn regularity, especially since the lack of activity since he arrived at La Liga has left him out of the Mexican national team. His first option is to leave on a loan for another team in La Liga and the second one is to return to Liga MX to earn enough playing time to gather attention of a new European team.

What Liga MX teams can sign him?

Celta de Vigo won’t sell Orbelín as Mouriño believes he has the potential to make an impact for the club, but the Célticos are willing to let him leave on a loan. So far, Chivas and Cruz Azul are the clubs that have showed interest in his addition, although Tigres and Monterrey are always looking to improve their rosters.

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