Antonio Portales could be on his way back home to Mexico after leaving Dundee – in a bid to keep his World Cup dreams alive.
The 29-year-old’s departure from Dens Park was confirmed by the club on Tuesday when they announced their annual retained and released list.
The versatile defender is one of five first-team stars – along with Joe Shaughnessy, Scott Tiffoney, Mo Sylla and Scott Fraser – who have said goodbye to the Dark Blues.
He has spent the past two seasons on Tayside and become something of a fans’ favourite in that time.
Portales made 31 appearances last term and scored four times, most memorably a stunning effort in the 2-1 defeat to Motherwell at the start of May, when he also had another controversially ruled out.
Ahead of that game, he insisted he was ‘very, very happy’ to play for Dundee.
“My agent is speaking with Dundee,” Portales said last month. “I am very, very happy to play here and I am thankful for all the support I get from the fans.
“The last game I heard my song, which was great because I feel good, I feel happy.
“But, yes, my agent is speaking with the team.
“I’ll focus on the pitch and work hard every day and then we will check.”
However, a contract offer – believed to have been for an extra two years – that was made as far back as November last year remained unsigned.
Portales interest after Dundee departure
Those talks between the player’s representatives and the Dens Park hierarchy failed to come to fruition, alerting a host of clubs in Portales’ homeland and wider afield as to his availability.
It is understood a handful of Mexican clubs have expressed an interest in providing a route back to the country, where Portales previously played for Monterey, Atlético San Luis, Alebrijes de Oaxaca and Atlante.
Monterey were linked with a move for their former employee last year, as were Chivas de Guadalajara.
He is also reportedly being tracked by clubs in France, Portugal and Spain after proving himself for the first time outside Mexico in his two years at Dundee.
The centre-half arrived in Scotland speaking very little English but subsequently became a popular figure with his team-mates and supporters.
He leaves having played 55 times for the Dee and having shown his versatility by finishing the season turning out as a defensive midfielder.
However, despite enjoying his spell in the Scottish Premiership, it is understood Portales has felt the time was right to take the ‘next step’ in his career.
The fact the next World Cup is being hosted next year by Mexico, alongside the United States and Canada, is believed to be one motivating factor in Portales’ decision.
He is determined to do everything possible to try to force his way into the reckoning with his national side ahead of the global gathering.
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