Uriel Antuna: Set for Mexico City Return | OneFootball

The 2026 January transfer window is right around the corner and the biggest rumour of the window so far includes Tigres’ Uriel Antuna, who is expected to leave the club next month.

Antuna, 28, joined Tigres with high expectations after becoming one of the poster boys at Cruz Azul, guiding La Máquina to the 2024 Liga MX Clausura final. However, the winger has struggled to adapt to life in Nuevo Léon and is being tipped with a move back to the capital.

Uriel Antuna’s Career

As a youngster, Antuna joined the Manchester City academy after impressing with Santos Languna but failed to make it into the first team. One loan spell with Dutch side Groningen seemed set to prepare him for life in Europe, but by 2019 he was back in North America. He took another loan opportunity with LA Galaxy, before returning to Mexico later that year with Chivas.

In Guadalajara, Antuna once again struggled to find a consistent run in the first team but was offered a move to the capital, with Cruz Azul, which would kickstart his career.

By 2023, it seemed that Antuna was finally hitting his peak. He had become a regular in the Mexican national team and was contributing 20 goals in the Liga MX. But questions were asked when he opted for a move across the country to join Tigres after guiding La Máquina to the 2024 Liga MX final.

Uriel Antuna: Struggles at Tigres

Joining Tigres, Antuna was part of one of the strongest attacking lineups in the league, alongside the likes of Juan Brunetta, André-Pierre Gignac, and Nicolás Ibáñez, but he was unable to secure a starting position. In his first full campaign in Monterrey, the 28-year-old failed to score a single goal, but assisted three times.

In the most recent tournament, where Tigres reached the Liga MX Apertura final, Antuna was an unused substitute in every playoff match until a 15-minute display against Toluca, where he managed to convert a penalty during the shootout defeat.

Now, as Antuna looks to claim a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, a Tigres exit is expected, and it looks like Pumas are interested in his services. RÉCORD claim that Los Universitarios are ‘close’ to signing both the 28-year-old and Tigres teammate Sebastián Córdova.

Pumas are looking for attacking reinforcements to improve on their 10th-place Liga MX Apertura finish, which saw them miss out on the playoffs. The club have already begun their winter deals by signing Brazilian striker Juninho and Rayados midfielder César Marza, whilst also being linked with Colombian captain James Rodríguez, who left Club Léon at the end of the Apertura.

Will a move back to the capital revive Uriel Antuna’s career? Let us know!