Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has been left out of Sevilla’s squad for Saturday’s game at former club Real Madrid as his impending move to LA Galaxy draws closer.
The Mexico international didn’t train with the team on Thursday or Friday with negotiations underway ahead of a highly anticipated move to Major League Soccer.
Sevilla said on Friday afternoon that “Chicharito” was not included in the 20-man squad selected by coach Julen Lopetegui as he “continues to negotiate his possible departure.”
A source with knowledge of the situation said that things “continue to move in a positive direction and Galaxy manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto said at MLS media day: ”I think we need to wait until next week and then we can speak about [Hernandez]. We are talking. We are excited, but it’s not done, so we need to wait.”
The Galaxy are reportedly going to pay $10 million for the former Manchester United striker and make him the highest-paid player in MLS, with the deal expected to happen early next week.
Hernandez, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals, joined Sevilla in the summer on an €8m transfer, but has only scored one goal in nine appearances for the Andalusian club.
The Galaxy are looking to strengthen their attack after Zlatan Ibrahimovic left the club at the end of the season for another stint AC Milan earlier this month, while Hernandez is tied to Sevilla until June 2022.
Sevilla are preparing for Hernandez’s departure, having signed Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri from Leganes on a reported €20m transfer as his replacement.
En-Nesyri, 22, has been included in Sevilla’s squad for Saturday’s game at the Bernabeu.