CALLING CARLOS
Rangers in talks over deal for Mexican midfielder Pena
RANGERS have opened talks over a deal to sign Mexican international midfielder Carlos Pena.
Known in his homeland as ‘Gullit’ for his physical resemblance to Dutch legend Ruud, Pena has 19 caps for his country and is known to Pedro Caixinha from his time coaching Mexican club Santos Laguna.
Ineligible for an automatic work permit due to his failure to play in 75 per cent of Mexico’s internationals over the last two years, Rangers will look to persuade a governing body appeal panel the 27-year-old can make a significant contribution to the Scottish game.
Currently on loan at Club Leon after a £6million move to Chivas Guadalajara turned sour, Pena has attracted headlines in his homeland for his party lifestyle.
Picked for Mexico’s 2014 World Cup squad, the midfielder responded to rumours last year claiming: ‘They tell so many lies
about me. I have just started to ignore all the things coming out. ‘It’s gossip. They say I’m a drunk and chase women. ‘I don’t care. It doesn’t hurt me because I know they are lies. ‘That kind of talk is doing damage to my family. I have children and they read that. I know it’s not true, but they don’t.’ His former manager at Guadalajara, Matias Almeyda, said: ‘I learned to love Carlos. ‘He’s an excellent guy, an excellent player, but he had some episodes. ‘I tried my best to help him. I told him I would do it because I loved him. I’ve seen many players like him who have ended up badly and I don’t want that with Carlos. ‘I don’t want him to waste his best years of football by partying. ‘His friends need to help him, too. If they turn up with beer and wine, they are not helping him.’ The owner of the club, Jorge Vergara, later revealed why they decided to loan Pena back to Leon last year. He said: ‘We supported him as best we could, but the only environment where he feels comfortable is at Leon. ‘We offered him personal therapy, with a specialist. ‘He has made many decisions that continue to generate problems.’ Earlier this year, Pena was initially arrested after a suspected hit and run incident. He spent 12 hours in custody before he was released without charge. He later said: ‘It was a scrape, not a car crash. The media always talk about me as a person and never about my football.’ Pena joins a lengthy list of targets assembled by Caixinha ahead of a return to pre-season training next month. As Sportsmail revealed Portuguese defender Fabio Cardoso joins countryman Bruno Alves on a hit list also featuring Ghanaian Rashid Sumaila and SPFL stars Ryan Jack, Hearts duo Callum Paterson and Jamie Walker and Motherwell striker Louis Moult.