Wolves striker Raul Jimenez reportedly wants to either go and play with his old team Club America, or move to the MLS.
That is the claim from Fox Sports journalist Ruben Rodriguez, who also spoke about some of the controversy that surrounded the 32-year-old earlier this season.
Jimenez was struggling with a groin injury just before the club made their managerial change.
After the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth on August 31, Jimenez then did not play for Wolves again until after the World Cup.
The optics did not look good, because Jimenez had been linking up with the Mexico national team while Wolves were struggling.
The player was trying to get fit for the tournament in Qatar.
In the end, he made just three came appearances for his country at the finals, and it was clear he was not fit.
Journalist Rodriguez has claimed that Wolves’ medical staff actually didn’t give Jimenez the best treatment. He said (Fox Sports): “What Lopetegui doesn’t say, I’ll tell you first hand, is that the Wolves medical staff were prescribing Raul wrong. Instead of helping him, they complicated his injury, the pubalgia. The man who really rescues Raul physically is in the Mexican national team.
“That’s why Raul said ‘Here I am moving forward’ that it is Carlos Pecanha, the chiropractor of the Mexican national team, the one who has treated Guardado, Raul, Ochoa, the one who has treated everyone. Thanks to him, Raul is playing football.”
2022/23 has been a very difficult campaign for Jimenez.
The £30 million striker hasn’t featured much at all since Julen Lopetegui came in.
One wonders if him going to the World Cup has had anything to do with his lack of minutes. Lopetegui didn’t really want him to go with him lacking fitness.
In recent months, Jimenez has been linked with an exit from Molineux and Rodriguez says a return to his old club could be on the cards. But the player’s salary coulld be an issue.
He added: “There was talk of América. The issue is salary. Raul earns more than four or five (million dollars). Raul wants to play in América or wants to play in MLS, the issue is salary. If Raul and América reach a significant reduction, maybe it’s an option.”
Raul Jimenez will surely leave Wolves this summer given the way this season has gone
It remains to be seen if Jimenez can get a move to either Club América or an MLS franchise.
Salary could be an issue. But he may well be forced to lower his demands given his struggles at Wolves this season. It is clear he is sadly no longer the same player as a few years ago.
It would be very surprising if he stayed at Molineux after everything has happened this term.
What happened on Saturday, when Julen Lopetegui did not give him any minutes in Wolves’ final home game against Everton, is surely the last straw for him.
That was highly questionable from the manager, and it’d be no surprise if Jimenez wanted to move on.
But he may only be able to do that if he is willing to compromise on wages.