Mexican newspaper Record today features a very interesting piece on the career of Guillermo Ochoa.
With the debate about whether he is or not the best goalkeeper in the country’s history, journalist Ignacio Suárez shares some little known facts about the player.
One of these stories is about Fulham’s efforts to sign him, which started with the arrival of Carlos Salcido at Craven Cottage in 2010.
Following his good start with the Whites, director Alistair Mackintosh started wondering if the defender had any compatriots of the same quality.
Fulham were looking for a replacement for Mark Schwarzer, and then contacted Mexican agent Juan Carlos Padilla, who recommended the signing of Ochoa.
Mackintosh then asked Sven-Goran-Eriksson, who managed the Mexican national team, and he confirmed that it would be a good signing.
According to Suarez, chief scout Barry Simmonds was sent to Mexico to watch the goalkeeper and one game was enough to approve the signing, which led to Fulham sending an offer of £1.5m, carrying a letter signed by Mackinstosh.
Even though Ochoa’s club America said they wanted £1.5m, the Mexican side never accepted the offer.
They started demanding £4m, and that made both Mackintosh and Padilla ‘disappointed and furious’.
Padilla then went back to London for a last attempt, when America and Fulham officials met at Langan’s restaurant.
The Whites had doubts about Ochoa’s height, and then made an offer of £500k for a loan plus a buying option of £4m.
That wasn’t accepted, since it was considered ‘offensive’ by the Mexican club.
Suarez says Fulham never insisted on the signing, and six months later, Ochoa left America for free at the end of his contract, signing for French side Ajaccio.
