Julián Araujo on the verge of winning a starting role with El Tri
Araujo begins race to claim El Tri's right-back slot
The Los Angeles Galaxy and El Tri have a connection that goes back years. Jorge Campos, Carlos Hermosillo, El Matador, Gio, Jona, Efra and Chicharito are players that have represented both El Tri and MLSs five-time MLS Cup champion. Dennis te Kloese, who at one point held the role of México’s Director of National Teams, had a tenure as Galaxy’s General Manager. There’s plenty of evidence that says that México has a special place in the Galaxy’s history.
But the inclusion of Julián Araujo in Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s recent call-up takes this connection to a new phase.
It was only a matter of time to see a footballer made in the LA Galaxy youth system wear El Tri’s jersey. The case of Efra is also significant, but Araujo is on the verge of winning a starting role in the national team. His competition for a starting role isn’t so complicated compared to other positions, considering that both Jorge Sánchez and Chaka Rodríguez haven’t started the year as strong as they’d wanted. Their 2021 wasn’t that spectacular either.
With David Ochoa and Araujo opting to play for El Tri in late 2021, they opened the door for a series of possibilities. As the growth of MLS continues, the number of Mexican-American footballers on the field will grow, giving México’s national team a larger pool to select talent from for its senior and youth national teams.
In our current times, it’s important to have Mexican-American players like Araujo who are active in their communities and also fulfill the dream of many little kids growing up in a Mexican household, where Liga MX games are always on each weekend and El Tri’s games are never missed.
In his debut against Chile, Araujo transmitted joy and confidence in the right-flank. His determination helped El Tri net its first goal of the evening.
During the next few days, Martino will rely on players like Araujo to spark up new ideas and find solutions. Martino is already on shaky grounds considering that Chucky and Raúl won’t be available in the visit to Kingston, luckily the only away game from this window.
Araujo is aware that this window is his presentation to players he looked up to, it’s a similar moment to what Edson Álvarez lived back in 2017 when he trained with the national team in the Confederations Cup. Edson told me how surprised he was by the positive reception he received from players like Rafa, Chicharito and Guardado. Nowadays, Edson, with a World Cup under his belt and as an undisputed starter with Ajax, will welcome Araujo to the national team.
At only 20-years-old Araujo represents the present and future of El Tri’s right-back position. His story should serve as an inspiration for many Mexican-American youngsters who one day dream to play for El Tri.