The Mexican media is now pretty sure that Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez will be with the national team squad for the World Cup.
The reason for that is quotes from manager Tata Martino on Tuesday afternoon. He spoke to the press in Girona, where they’re preparing for the tournament, and addressed the player’s situation.
“I don’t see the point in taking four players who play as number nine. If Raul Jimenez continues with this evolution, surely he should be there. A footballer of his hierarchy must be at a World Cup,” said Martino.
“Today Raul is more in than out. A few weeks ago the possibility that he was even training with us was minimal and both Wolverhampton and the national team have worked together, with a lot of communication, and I repeat, a player of his hierarchy deserves to be waited for until the end.”
It’s clear that Martino didn’t guarantee that Jimenez will be in the list. Still, most Mexican outlets took his message as a sign that he’s taking the Wolves star anyway. One of them is W Deportes, who feature those quotes, and have a headline saying the player is ‘confirmed’ in the squad.
Raul Jimenez had been recovering from his hip injury in Mexico, and despite being called back by the Premier League side, who reportedly wanted to use him before the World Cup break, he ended up leaving England early to join the national team in Girona.
It’s probably clear that the striker can’t be used by Wolves, so they’d rather have him working with the national team for now. However, that also raises doubts whether he’ll be 100% ready for Mexico’s debut against Poland on the 22nd of November.
