Manneh's move from Columbus in MLS to Liga MX will be one of the most intriguing this Clausura. John David Mercer-USA TODAY SportsFollowing a very short winter break, the 2018 Clausura tournament is set to kick off this week. Along with the many recognizable heroes and villains around the league, a number of unfamiliar faces will step onto the field this season and make their debuts in the Mexican first division.
Several Liga MX teams were quite busy with recent transfers, and although they have until Jan. 31 to register foreign players, there is already a long list of noteworthy additions.
In no specific order, here are seven to keep an eye on.
Angelo Henriquez, FW, Atlas
Back in September 2012, the Chile striker made headlines after signing a high-profile contract with Manchester United. "Angelo has made a tremendous impact on the game in his short career so far," then-manager Alex Ferguson said. "His pace is a great asset, and he reads the game really well for someone of such a young age."
Unfortunately for Henriquez, the striker was never able to carve out a permanent place on the roster of the Premier League giants and instead spent the past few years with Wigan Athletic, Real Zaragoza and, most recently, Dinamo Zagreb. Now at 23 years of age, Henriquez finds himself at Atlas with another former United signing, Ravel Morrison.
With room for improvement in the Guadalajara club's attack, the Chile international should be given plenty of opportunities to take his game to another level in Mexico.
Kekuta Manneh, FW, Pachuca
Signing Manneh is a gamble for Pachuca. When looking at his career in Major League Soccer -- he spent four seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and one year at Columbus Crew -- it's clear that the Gambia-born U.S. citizen has a wealth of potential that has yet to be tapped. Consistency appears to be a problem, but despite this, Los Tuzos were won over by his occasional flashes of brilliance and speed that will at least make him a dangerous bench option.
Well aware of the current reconstruction of the U.S. national team, the 23-year-old will surely be eager to propel his career by securing a key role for Pachuca. It won't be easy, but with plenty of versatility and acceleration in attack, Manneh is undoubtedly one of the more interesting new players to follow in Mexico.
I'm really excited, proud and happy to announce that I have signed with @tuzosoficial â½ï¸