Is this the fall of Necaxa? | OneFootball

Alarm bells are ringing in Aguascalientes as Necaxa sell off two key players who helped the club reach the 2025 Liga MX Clausura playoffs.

Agustin Palavecino

Supporter’s concerns come in the aftermath of Agustin Palavecino’s move from the club to Cruz Azul, in search of a first Liga MX title.

The attacking midfielder had 15 goal involvements during the 2024-25 season as Los Rayos looked to get back to their best. According to FotMob, the Argentine was by far the club’s best-performing player in the most recent Apertura, earning an rating average of 7.54, significantly higher than the next best performer, Kevin Rosero, who had a rating of 7.08.

Finishing the first half of the season in 13th place, four points away from the playoffs, Necaxa struggled for goals, but much of their attacking strengths went through the 29-year-old.

Considered one of the best in his position, Palavecino was invited to join Pachuca for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. With three starts and averaging 75 minutes per game, he had the chance to showcase his talents on the global stage.

His move to La Máquina, one of the favorites to challenge for the 2026 Clausura, highlights his qualities, which will be hard to replace for manager Fernando Gago this winter.

Deadly forward makes Liga MX switch

Necaxa’s decision to sell Palavecino comes mere days after Colombian striker Diber Cambindo moved to Club León.

An arguably greater blow, the 29-year-old Cambindo was coming off his best-ever goalscoring run, with 17 goals in 35 appearances in 2025. While the most recent Apertura campaign felt like a disappointment for many around the club, Cambindo still delivered, hitting the back of the net six times in 17 matches.

With the departure of James Rodríguez, León set their sights on an in-form striker. Cambindo fit this bill, and with their new wage freedom the clubs hopes his arrival will fuel a turnaround from a miserable 17th-place Apertura.

What happens to Necaxa in 2026?

Los Rayos find themselves in a precarious position after selling two of their best attacking outlets.

Replacing Cambindo, a proven Liga MX striker, will be former Leicester City and Feyenoord striker Julian Carranza. The 25-year-old Argentine striker had his best seasons in North America whilst playing for the Philadelphia Union between 2022-2024. During his time in the MLS, Carranza scored 43 goals in 95 matches, but question marks loom large with the striker registering only five goals in 39 matches during his two seasons playing in Europe.

Necaxa begin their 2026 Clausura campaign away at Santos Laguna this weekend. But with two key players absent and heavy expectations resting on a new striker adapting to a new league, only time will tell whether this gamble will pay off.