Ochoa Targets Real Zaragoza to Continue in Europe

Veteran Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa wants to extend his career in European football and has now set his sights on Spain. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, the shot-stopper aims to secure a role that will keep him in rhythm and allow him to compete for the starting position in the Mexico National Team under Javier Aguirre.

According to El Periódico de Aragón, Ochoa has offered his services to Real Zaragoza, a historic club in Spain’s Second Division currently undergoing a restructuring after Andrés Fernández’s departure to Almería. At present, the team managed by Gabi Fernández only has Gaëtan Poussin and academy product Carlos Calavia as first-team goalkeepers. However, so far, the board has not shown formal interest in the Mexican international.

A Veteran With World Cup Experience

With stints at Ajaccio, Málaga, Granada, Standard Liège and Salernitana, in addition to his long history at Club América, Ochoa boasts a career few Mexican goalkeepers can match. Although he experienced relegations with Ajaccio and Granada, he has also won titles and played a key role for the national team, featuring in five World Cups.

His main goal for the 2025-2026 season is to log consistent minutes and maintain peak form. In his view, that is crucial to earn a spot in what would be his sixth World Cup, one he hopes to play on home soil, as the 2026 tournament will be hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The Challenge of Staying Relevant

Ochoa’s current situation reflects the fight of veteran footballers to keep competing at the highest level amid a generational shift. While critics question certain chapters of his career, it is undeniable that he has been one of Mexico’s most consistent goalkeepers abroad.

Now, it all depends on whether Real Zaragoza or another Spanish club decides to rely on his experience to strengthen their goal. If the move happens, Ochoa would embark on his third spell in Spanish football, still driven by the same ambitions: to compete, to win, and to represent Mexico on football’s biggest stage.