10 Mexican Soccer Stars Who Could Move in Europe

Mexican football is growing fast and a new generation is taking over, which means we get to see younger and more talented footballers on a regular basis.

The Under-17 and Under-20 FIFA World Cups have proven that these kids have a lot to offer.  Some of them have already left for Europe, seeking more exposure.

Others might get there soon.

Carlos Vela

The Arsenal forward, now playing on loan to Spain's Real Sociedad, has aligned with five different teams in a five-year span.

Vela hasn't been as consistent as expected after Mexico won the 2005 Under-17 World Championship.

This season, with Real Sociedad, he has appeared 10 times and scored once—his lowest rate since he's been in Europe.  Also, the squad stands 17th in the table, which puts it in danger of going back to Segunda División.    

If so, Vela can go back to Arsenal, where he hasn't played much, or wait for another team to take him.

Giovani Dos Santos

Gio has had a lot of success with Mexico's national football team, but hasn't had that much luck in his club career.

Dos Santos' first team was Barcelona B, where his younger brother Jonathan now plays.  Then, he was promoted to the first team before being bought by Tottenham.

Like Carlos Vela, Giovanni has aligned, on loan, for a handful of clubs, including Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Racing Santander.

He's back at Tottenham, appearing seven times and scoring once this season.  His lack of consistency and Tottenham's star-studded lineup may put him on the transfer window, yet again.

Efraín Juárez

He caught the eye of Scottish Premier League team Celtic after the 2010 World Cup.  Despite his speed and strength, Juárez only played 21 matches and scored twice.

He left on loan to Spain's Real Zaragoza, where he reunited with Javier Aguirre, former Mexico national football team manager.

Juárez has played in 13 La Liga matches, scoring only once.  Currently, his squad sits second-to-last in the table; if they don't improve, they will be relegated to Segunda División.

Pablo Barrera

Pablo "Dinamita" Barrera's history is pretty much the same as that of Juárez.  Barrera went to Europe after South Africa 2010 when England's West Ham United bought him from Mexican club UNAM.

After 23 appearances, between Premier League, Carling Cup and FA Cup, Barrera was loaned to Real Zaragoza, becoming Javier Aguirre's second Mexican player on the team.

Despite what he has shown with the national team, Barrera hasn't been a cornerstone for the Spanish club, playing 12 matches and scoring only once.

Andrés Guardado

One of the most talented national midfielders, "El Principito" has been with Deportivo La Coruña since 2007.  After Guardado played four seasons in La Liga, the team was relegated to Segunda División.

Unfortunately, Guardado couldn't sign with another team.  Last summer, he was linked to Portugal's Benfica, Spain's Atlético de Madrid and Getafe, England's Tottenham and Russia's Spartak.

According to EFE news agency and Cadena SER, Guardado is set to sign with Valencia, after Deportivo's president, Augusto César Lendoiro, said the club can't renew his contract.

Guillermo Ochoa

After several seasons with Mexico's América, Ochoa finally went to Europe; it was France's Ajaccio that signed him for three years.

Ajaccio, a recently promoted team, has given Ochoa a chance to display his talent after making him its starting goalkeeper.

It's true that the squad hasn't had that much success—they currently stand in the last position of the table—but this move has given him the chance to experience European soccer and mature.

Édson Rivera

Rivera, a member of the Mexican team that played the 2011 U-20 World Championship, used to play for Club Atlas, a Guadalajara-based team.

He caught the attention of media at the quarterfinals after scoring twice in front of the local team, Colombia, giving Mexico the pass to the semifinals where the squad lost to Brazil.

Édson scored another goal in the third-place match, against France, which immediately put him on the radar of several teams.  It was Sporting Clube de Braga that signed him, but hasn't aligned him yet.

It's clear that the Mexican striker is not in the manager's plans, so he may leave the team either on loan or in exchange for another player.

Antonio Pedroza

Pedroza left Jaguares de Chiapas after one year; he played 20 matches and scored six times, which put him on Crystal Palace's radar.

He was also linked with Tottenham Hotspur, but the transfer didn't happen and he was finally offered a three-year contract with the second division team. 

Antonio is fast, strong and knows how to kick the ball.  But, despite his abilities, he hasn't debuted yet, which might put him on the team's transfer list.

Erick Torres

At age 18, Erick "El Cubo" Torres is one of the most promising Mexican footballers.  He played the latest U-20 World Championship, becoming the youngest Mexican team member.

Torres plays for Chivas de Guadalajara, Javier Hernández' former squad, and has become a cornerstone of the team's offense.

Last year he was linked to Manchester United; national and international media called him the new Chicharito for his style, age and skills on the pitch.

Torres' speed and strength can put him on track to English football. 

Marco Fabián

Another Chivas de Guadalajara player, Marco Fabián has become one of the most successful Mexican midfielders of the last season.

Having scored eight goals at the Apertura 2011—for a total of 25 since his debut in 2007—Fabián has shown that, at age 22, he has a lot to offer.  Speed and technique are some of his specialties on the pitch.

Despite being young, Fabián has become one of Chivas' key players, and if he continues to work hard, he might have a shot at the 2014 World Cup.