Javier Hernandez, known affectionately as Chicharito, has opened up about the emotional difficulty of leaving European football, admitting that his move to Major League Soccer in 2020 felt like the beginning of his retirement. The former Manchester United striker, now 37, broke down in tears while addressing his family in a video message as he prepared to join LA Galaxy.
Hernandez joined United in 2010 after impressing at the World Cup with Mexico. He enjoyed a prolific debut season under Sir Alex Ferguson, scoring 20 goals and helping the club win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final. However, his form dipped under David Moyes and he struggled for opportunities under Louis van Gaal, eventually leaving on a permanent transfer to Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.
After a successful spell in Germany, he returned to England with West Ham, scoring 16 Premier League goals in 55 appearances. A brief stint at Sevilla followed before he made the move to the United States. In an emotional video, he said: 'It's almost certain that I'm going to LA. It's okay, everything is perfect, it's only that, well it's like the beginning of my retirement.'
Addressing his father, he continued: 'Dad, try to understand me. Don't worry, look, what I mean is that we're saying goodbye to a career that we put a lot of effort on and we worked, and I know you guys also feel it. We're going to look at the bright side, but whether we like it or not we are retiring from the European dream.'
Hernandez went on to score 39 goals in 82 appearances for LA Galaxy before returning to his boyhood club CD Guadalajara in Mexico. His homecoming yielded only four goals in 39 outings, and he was released last month. He remains a free agent and has not formally announced his retirement.
