Cuauhtemoc Blanco to leave Chicago Fire for Veracruz

October 29, 10:41 PMChicago Fire ExaminerRoman Kashuba

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Cuauhtemoc Blanco will leave Chicago Fire at season's end for Mexican second-division club Veracruz.  

In a statement on his Web site, Blanco said he will start playing for Veracruz in January.  The move appears to be motivated by Blanco's desire to stay in shape ahead of next June's World Cup.  The Fire's three-year deal with Blanco expires at season'e end, but Blanco's new contract with Veracruz will allow him to opt-out mid-season, leaving the door open for a return to the Fire following the World Cup.  

Fire technical director Frank Klopas left this statement: "We respect his desire to continue playing in Mexico during the MLS offseason and continue preparing for the 2010 World Cup, which is a top priority for him. We will continue our dialogue with his agent regarding Blanco playing for the Fire in the second half of the 2010 season and beyond." 

"I had a great experience in the MLS, where they treated me very well, but at this stage of my career there were some clubs from the Mexican league that wanted me to come home," Blanco said on his Web site. "I will start a new stage in Veracruz, a place where I used to play and I promised to come back."

Blanco last played for Veracruz in 2004, but was loaned out during the last MLS off-season playing for Santos Laguna.  Fire supporters certainly hope this move will end up looking like last season's loan.