Pumas hunts for Cordova replacement with no budget and foreign slots maxed out

Finding a replacement for Sebastian Cordova has proven far from easy for Pumas. The midfielder's left knee gave out during the Leagues Cup, resulting in a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, and ever since, the university club's front office has spent days scouring the Mexican market without landing on the right man yet.

The issue isn't just about available talent, it's about numbers. Pumas has already filled all nine of its foreign player slots, so any reinforcement to cover for Cordova's absence has to come from the list of players not developed in Mexico. And that pool is fairly limited: most of the names who fit that profile are undisputed starters for their current teams, which complicates any potential negotiation.

On top of that, there's another reality well known inside Pumas: there's no budget for an expensive deal. The front office isn't chasing a flashy signing, but rather someone who can do a job similar to what Cordova provided, a player capable of operating as a No. 10 while also being able to drift out wide when the system calls for it.

In recent days, the name of Heriberto Jurado, a Necaxa midfielder, has come up as a possible option. However, there's no genuine interest from the club to pursue that path, so the search remains open.

The good news for Pumas is that there's still time. The Liga MX transfer window closes on September 11, giving the front office room to keep exploring alternatives before it shuts. Cordova's injury stings all the more because the midfielder had been in good form right before getting hurt in the Leagues Cup.

Macias, another name working his way back

While the Cordova situation gets sorted out, another story is unfolding in parallel within the Pumas academy: that of Jose Juan Macias. The Mexican forward has spent several weeks in recovery after a serious injury in late 2025 that included a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, along with damage to the medial collateral ligament and the medial meniscus in the same knee. Surgery was unavoidable.

According to the club's internal projections, Macias could be fully recovered by November, at which point he would join full training with the rest of the squad. Pumas has already registered him for this tournament, leaving the door open for a possible return during the Apertura 2026.

Two different stories, but with the same backdrop: the knee has become a recurring issue for Pumas in recent months, and the front office will have to sort out the immediate present before thinking about future comebacks.