Rondón packs his bags: Venezuelan striker heads back to Pachuca from struggling Oviedo
Salomón Rondón cuts short his loan spell at goal-shy Real Oviedo to return to Mexican side Pachuca, where he previously enjoyed significant success.
The Venezuelan forward leaves Asturias after just a few months, returning to the Mexican club where he previously flourished as captain and top goalscorer.
Salomón Rondón’s brief Spanish adventure has come to an abrupt end as the veteran striker prepares to swap the struggles of Segunda División for a return to Mexico’s top flight. Despite being Oviedo’s top scorer this season with a measly two goals (in a team that’s only managed seven league goals altogether - proper drought, innit?), Rondón is heading back to Pachuca where he remains under contract until December 2026.
Loyalty to Pachuca Group
The decision appears to be a mutual one between the player and Jesús Martínez, president of Grupo Pachuca, which owns both clubs. Sources suggest Rondón’s departure is partly motivated by his non-EU status, with the striker stepping aside to free up a valuable registration spot for the Spanish outfit.
Rondón’s loan arrangement with Oviedo is now officially terminated, sending him back to the club where he previously enjoyed significant success.
Mexican glory awaits… again
The 35-year-old’s previous stint at Pachuca was nothing short of stellar:
- MVP of the CONCACAF Champions League
- Top goalscorer in the CONCACAF Champions League
- Named best forward in Liga MX 2024 (Balón de Oro)
- Club World Cup finalist
- Team captain
Rondón had been training with Oviedo right up until today’s announcement, having featured regularly in the starting lineup during his brief spell in Spain. His departure isn’t financially motivated - in fact, he had taken a pay cut to join Oviedo initially.
Tight timeline
The Venezuelan international will say his goodbyes to teammates in the coming days before officially rejoining Pachuca ahead of the Liga MX season, which kicks off on January 10th.
For Oviedo, losing their top scorer (even with just two goals) represents another blow in what’s been a challenging campaign. They’ll need to find goals from somewhere else sharpish, or they’ll be in Barney Rubble before long.