Statement Signing Sizzles Out: Sandoval Leaves Vancouver

Well, it’s been quite an odd year for Gael Sandoval: it started with a big welcoming party at Tepatitlan, where he was paraded about as a coup signing. He then ditched the project entirely for Canada’s Vancouver FC, who called the Liga MX veteran a ‘statement player’ expected to shake up the league.

He now leaves the Canadian Premier League quietly, with the club mutually terminating the 27-year-old’s contract after thirteen appearances. He bagged one goal and three assists in that time, but never quite hit the heights many expected someone with 119 top flight Mexican appearances to hit.

The departure of Sandoval had been rumoured for weeks, with the club quietly confirming his departure today in the midst of its Renan Garcia’s signing announcement.

He’s the third player the club has torn up a contract on in year one, with the loan Cristian Mares quickly being overturned and Emmanuel Robe’s departure similarly being tucked away in another player’s signing announcement.

Sandoval entered the league in his prime at 27, so it’s unfortunate that things didn’t click. Having represented the likes of Santos Laguna, FC Juarez, Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas) and Mazatlan FC (and never suiting up for his prior club Tepatitlan FC), he was certainly an interesting figure for the league – he had the talent, but it wasn’t a good fit.

The expansion side has moved quickly to make adjustments in the summer transfer window, adding former league golden boot winner Alejandro Diaz on loan from Sogndal IF, swapping players to bring in Mikael Cantave, and adding 37-year-old Brazilian midfielder Renan Garcia today.

Still at the bottom of league standings, it’ll be interesting to see if Ghotbi’s midseason moves can help the fledgling side climb up the rankings.