Liga MX market values: Juan Brunetta enters the podium of the most valuable
With the year about to end, Transfermarkt carried out a complete update of values in Liga MX. Virtually all the values of Mexico's first division were reviewed with major changes around the most valuable players in the league. On the one hand, Spaniard Sergio Canales suffers his second devaluation since he arrived in Mexico, while Argentine Juan Brunetta consolidates himself as the second most valuable player in Aztec football.
The brand new signing for the UANL Tigres, Brunetta had quite a productive 2023 individually. With 15 goals and 17 assists in all competitions with former team Santos Laguna opening the door for Tigres to pay his release clause in a deal that is estimated to be around €11 million; a situation that also influenced the increase in the player's market value, with the Argentine up to €10m.
“Brunetta dominated the league and was vital for Colombian team-mate Harold Preciado becoming a top goalscorer. The Argentine midfielder was the engine of Santos throughout this year and it is reflected in the constant increase in value he had during 2023, where it went from €3.5 to €10m,” explains Eduardo Hernández, area manager of Transfermarkt Mexico.
Canales, Brunetta and Co. - The most valuable players in Liga MX
Another of the players who had a rise in market value is Cruz Azul midfielder Kevin Castaño, who despite not being able to shine spectacularly with his new club team, did perform with the Colombian national team, awakening the interest of European clubs like Krasnodar, who he will sign for soon for a figure of around €7m, practically double what Cruz Azul paid for him, which obviously influences his new valuation of €4m.
“He had a meteoric consolidation, especially in the Colombian team. Although in Cruz Azul he could not become a key figure, he has become fundamental for his nation, standing out in the South American qualifiers,” adds Samuel Vásquez, area manager of Transfermarkt Colombia.
The Club América players were also revalued after the magnificent campaign where they won the league, with the Águilas exceeding the total value of €90m. Sebastián Cáceres stands out, going from €3.5m to €7m, with the defender in great form for both Club América and with the Uruguay national team. Luis Malagón also goes from €4.5 to €5m, Julián Quiñones goes from €9m to €10m, and Spanish midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo rises from €7m to €8m.
Liga MX market values: The teams whose values have decreased
However, not everything is positive news within the update, since the two Nuevo León teams suffered a significant devaluation, especially Monterrey, who decreased in their squad value by almost €7m, increasing the gap to Club América among the clubs with the highest market value.
The most notable devaluation in the Monterrey squad is Spanish midfielder Sergio Canales, who had to deal with injuries in his first tournament in Monterrey, and although he scored five goals in the 10 games he played, the fact he is 33 years old already is a factor that works against the former Real Madrid man.
The Tigres squad suffers a drop of €2.8m, largely influenced by the fact that many of their players are over 30 years of age. Among those devalued are Nahuel Guzmán (From €1m to €900k), Diego Reyes (From €2m to €1.8m), Rafael Carioca (From €1.8m to €1.5m), Guido Pizarro (From €1.8 to €1.5m) and André- Pierre Gignac (From €1.2m to €1m), who despite this, remains one of the most valuable players in the world in his age class.
How Transfermarkt market values work
The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees.
The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).
