Despite reports to the contrary, Charlotte FC have not signed Mexico international Andres Guardado, and have no plans to, sources tell MLSsoccer.com.
Charlotte are set to enter MLS in 2022, by which time Guardado will be 35 years old. Currently with Spanish club Real Betis, the midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to MLS at various stages of the last few years.
Charlotte currently have three players on their inaugural roster. They signed Spanish midfielder Sergio Ruiz, Australian midfielder Riley McGree and traded for midfielder Brandt Bronico from Chicago Fire FC.
Ruiz has started 16 matches for Spanish second-tier side Las Palmas, who currently sit in ninth place. He has two goals and two assists. McGree is on loan at Birmingham City in England's Championship, where he's made eight appearances (five starts).
Guardado does have a connection to Charlotte FC, though. Charlotte's director of scouting Thomas Schaling helped bring Guardado to PSV when he was a scout for the Dutch club during the last decade. Guardado spent three seasons with PSV, making more than 100 appearances.
His career began with Atlas in Mexico and he has also played for Deportivo de La Coruña, Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen. Guardado has 162 caps with the Mexican national team.
