Chivas USA’s loan extension of budding star Erick “Cubo” Torres earlier this week was as close to a no-brainer as it gets for first-year club president Nelson Rodriguez.
The Rojiblancos knew for quite some time they would keep Torres, but opted to wait until this week to make it official. The 21-year-old will remain with the Goats for the remainder of the 2014 season, and the club has the option to retain his services beyond this year, as well.
For the Goats, holding onto the player who has scored nine of their 14 goals this season was one huge sigh of relief.
“We knew all along that we controlled the option to extend his loan through the end of this season and it's always been our intention to exercise that option," Rodriguez told MLSsoccer.com by phone on Wednesday. "We believe in a process to take action in an appropriate way.”
The rationale behind waiting to make a decision, according to Rodriguez, was to make sure Torres would make it to the World Cup break healthy. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera and Rodriguez have structured a three-year plan for the club, and Torres has undoubtedly been a key component for at least the immediate term.
Since joining Chivas USA from Mexican side CD Guadalajara in July of last year, Torres has scored 16 goals – including nine this season – to pull even with Cuauhtémoc Blanco as the league’s all-time scorer among Mexican-born players.
"He's an immense talent who's aided by the fact that he's a good-looking young man and plays hard,” Rodriguez said. “He has a great smile and he's been endearing to all fans. He's 21 years old and players of his quality are hard to find. We know keeping him will be a challenge. We expect suitors from all over the world in the future."
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Torres, who made his professional debut with Guadalajara in 2010, has not shied away from saying that his ultimate aspiration is to play in Europe. After scoring in a 1-1 draw against the rival LA Galaxy last weekend, Torres told reporters that the upcoming international tournaments were a major motivating factor as he looks to earn a call from the Mexican national team.
“Those competitions are a motivation for me; the Copa América that are upcoming and the Olympics, too,” Torres said. “Those are things that I look toward to keep me working and doing things well. Hopefully one day I can represent my country on that stage.”
