Ángel Correa leaves Tigres for River Plate as Liga MX loses another marquee name | OneFootball

Not long ago, Liga MX could proudly point to a growing list of international stars wearing its jerseys. Sergio Ramos, James Rodríguez, Sergio Canales and Ángel Correa (the latter a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022) all arrived in Mexico with major fanfare and promises of taking their clubs to new heights.

Funny enough, they all had something in common. None of them managed to lift a trophy during their time in Liga MX, and most of them left far sooner than anyone expected. The latest name to join that list is Ángel Correa, whose departure was officially confirmed this Thursday. The Argentine forward is heading back home after signing for River Plate in a deal worth $17 million.

For all the excitement these blockbuster signings generated, the ending has been remarkably similar. They arrived promising championships, unforgettable moments and a new era for their clubs. Instead, they walked away leaving fans with far more questions than celebrations. Some exited through the back door, others with less controversy, but none of them truly delivered the silverware that justified the hype surrounding their arrivals.

Correa’s Story

Correa’s move to River Plate also makes history for Tigres, as it becomes the most expensive sale in the club’s history.

When Correa landed in Monterrey, he was hailed as one of the biggest signings in Tigres’ modern era. A World Cup champion with Atlético Madrid pedigree, he immediately became one of the faces of the club and one of the biggest attractions in Liga MX. His technical quality, experience and ability to show up in decisive moments quickly made him a key piece of Tigres’ attack.

Across his two tournaments with the club, Correa posted impressive numbers. He scored eight goals during the Apertura 2025 campaign and established himself as one of Tigres’ main attacking leaders. He also played a crucial role in helping the club remain among the top contenders in Mexican soccer and reach the Liga MX Final.

Yet, despite all those individual contributions, the ending feels incomplete.

For a player of Correa’s caliber, goals and highlights were never supposed to be the final objective. Titles were. Those never came. His spell in Mexico will ultimately be remembered as entertaining, productive and financially beneficial for Tigres, but not as the championship-filled chapter supporters were promised.

No Title, Big Payout

In sporting terms, Correa leaves without the legacy or trophies many expected him to deliver. Financially, however, he departs having left behind a record-breaking transfer fee that will undoubtedly help the club continue building for the future.

Maybe that’s the new Liga MX business model: sign a global star, sell plenty of jerseys, generate headlines for a couple of tournaments, and then cash in before anyone starts asking where the trophies are.

Correa is hardly alone in that category.

Sergio Ramos arrived at Monterrey with the résumé of one of the greatest defenders in football history, but left without adding another title to his legendary collection. James Rodríguez generated enormous excitement at Club León, yet his stay also ended without silverware despite flashes of the talent that once made him one of the world’s biggest stars. Sergio Canales has undoubtedly been the most productive of the group statistically, becoming a consistent performer for Monterrey, but even his numbers have yet to translate into a championship. Allan Saint-Maximin’s brief stint with Club América was entertaining in stretches, but injuries and inconsistency meant his adventure in Mexico lasted just a single tournament.

Together, they symbolize a recent trend in Liga MX. Big names continue to arrive with global reputations and enormous expectations, but the league has struggled to turn those signings into championship success. Star power grabs headlines. Trophies, however, remain stubbornly difficult to buy.

Tigres UANL’s five most expensive sales

How these stars performed in Liga MX

Ángel Correa (Tigres) – 2 tournaments

Sergio Ramos (Monterrey) – 2 tournaments

James Rodríguez (Club León) – 2 tournaments

Sergio Canales (Monterrey) – 6 tournaments

Allan Saint-Maximin (Club América) – 1 tournament

As Correa heads back to Argentina, Liga MX loses another internationally recognized name. The league once celebrated having World Cup winners, Champions League veterans and European stars choosing Mexico. Now, one by one, those names are disappearing.

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