United vs Club America: 3 Players to Look Out For

Mexican side Club America will be Manchester United’s first pre-season opponents when they meet in Seattle on Friday.

With twelve league titles to their name, Los Aguilas are the most successful team in Mexico, and will provide tough opposition for Louis van Gaal’s side.

Here we select three Club America players who United should look out for.

#1 Dario Benedetto

Argentine-born striker Dario Benedetto only joined Club America in January of this year, in an $8 million transfer from Xolos de Tijuana.

The 25-year-old has already made an impact on Club America’s fortunes, scoring a hat-trick in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League victory over MLS side Montreal Impact. Benedetto only played from the semi-final stage onwards but still managed to score enough goals to land the Golden Boot award, with seven.

Four of his goals against Costa Rican side Herediano helping his team overturn a 3-0 first leg deficit. His performances in the competition were rewarded with him receiving the ‘Balon e Oro Concacaf 2015’, the best player in the South American Champions League.

#2 Oribe Peralta

31-year-old Oribe Peralta has been of Mexico’s finest strikers of the last few years, and became the country’s most expensive signing when he moved to Club America in 2014, for a reported fee of $10 million.

English supporters may remember him from his goalscoring exploits at the London Olympics in 2012. Peralta was the tournament’s third-highest scorer, netting twice in the final victory of Brazil. His opening goal in the 2-1 win came after just 29 seconds, making it the fastest goal scored of any FIFA tournament final.

Peralta spent the majority of his career with Santos Laguna, scoring 79 goals for the club, and during his time at Club America he has formed a mean partnership with Dario Benedetto, playing a crucial role in the club’s CONCACAF victory.

#3 Osvaldo Martinez

Paraguayan Osvaldo Martinez is the creative, attacking force in the middle of Club America’s side. Peralta and Benedetto may score the goals but Martinez is the man who supplies them.

The 29-year-old has been at the club since 2013 and like the lethal strikeforce ahead of him, he helped the club win the 2014/15 Champions League.

Martinez had already achieved the honour with his previous club Monterrey in 2010/11. He has, in truth, won trophies wherever he has played especially at Club America.

Although one criticism that could be levelled at him is that he isn’t a prolific goalscorer, he’s only found the net once for Paraguay and 8 times in 105 matches for Los Millonetas. United will have to be aware of his influence on Club America’s attack.