Mexico and PSV Eindhoven winger Hirving Lozano will not be taking part in the Gold Cup, the Mexican federation (FMF) announced on Monday.
Lozano, 23, partially tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the penultimate game of the Eredivisie season and while he joined the Mexico camp to try to prove his fitness ahead of the CONCACAF tournament, he hasn’t been able to.
“All the studies that took place in Mexico, the ones carried out by PSV, as well as external doctors, were analyzed and we reached the conclusion that to get back to 100 percent he needs more time than he’d have to be able to compete in the Gold Cup,” read the statement.
Due to injury, @HirvingLozano70 will also step down from our squad for the upcoming matches this summer.
We know you will come back stronger, Chucky! 😈🇲🇽⚽️#PasiónyOrgullo | #FMFporNuestroFútbol | #MEXTOUR pic.twitter.com/eMiUXYUDuA
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) May 27, 2019
Mexico coach Gerardo Martino had initially been positive about the 23-year-old’s chances of making the tournament and the news, which had been expected, is another blow for the Argentine.
Monterrey defender Miguel Layun will undergo a kidney procedure and will also miss out on the tournament, the FMF announced on Sunday, while Javier Hernandez, Hector Herrera and Carlos Vela have been been left out for personal reasons.
Porto winger Jesus “Tecatito” Corona wasn’t on the list following a spat with Martino over the player’s involvement in the March friendlies.
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“I don’t think it is common. It’s not something I’ve seen before,” said Martino earlier this month in a news conference on the absentees. “A call-up to the national team is a reward for footballers and when they don’t see it as that, it’s logical for them not to be here.”
Lozano is widely rumored to be moving on from PSV this summer, with Napoli the most reported destination.
Mexico begins its Gold Cup campaign on June 15 against Cuba, followed by matches against Canada (June 19) and Martinique (June 23). The squad warms up with friendlies against Venezuela (June 5) and Ecuador (June 9).