Striker Raúl Jiménez needs to remain at Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, get fit during pre-season and then look at re-establishing himself with the Mexican national team.
That’s according to Rafael Márquez Lugo and André Marín, who believe the striker would be ill-advised to focus on international matters.
Jiménez has been called up as part of manager Diego Cocca’s squad for the upcoming friendlies with Guatemala, Cameroon and then the USA in the CONCACAF Nations League.
His inclusion came as something of a surprise after a disappointing season with Wolves in which he managed just one assist in 15 Premier League games and featured in just 25% of the available minutes in the league.
That was largely due to fitness issues which plagued his run up to the World Cup and continued after it as well.
It’s believed he will look for a move away this summer after barely featuring under Julen Lopetegui, with his agents already working on potential moves the world over.
Departing Wolves would be an unwise move, according to Márquez Lugo and Marín, though, who both believe he should stay at Molineux and focus on getting back to his best.
“I think the smartest thing to do with Raul Jimenez is to do a pre-season,” said the former.
“What good is playing in a Gold Cup going to do Raul Jimenez? Do the pre-season, it already looks like they gave him a nod so he can stay (at Wolves). Do the pre-season, get 100%, the national team has already taken its toll on you.”
“He has to have a good pre-season, stay at Wolves, and keep competing at that level and earn the right to play for the Mexican national team,” added Marín.
