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          Cuauhtemoc Blanco says he almost signed with Chivas Guadalajara in '80s

            Mar 4, 2016, 11:06 AM ET

            Cuauhtemoc Blanco has revealed that he almost became a player for Chivas back in the day when his contract was still being finalised.

            The 43-year-old Mexico legend is returning to the Liga MX to play in an official final farewell match on Saturday at Estadio Azteca when Club America hosts Morelia in Week 9 of Liga MX's 2016 Clausura.

            Blanco told Nación ESPN that before he signed with America near the end of the '80s, his handler, Angel "Coca" Gonzalez had offered him to Chivas because Gonzalez knew the Guadalajara technical director well.

            "Before I came to America, 'Coca' was going to take me to Chivas because he had a [good] relationship with [Miguel Angel] 'Zurdo' Lopez," Blanco told ESPN's David Faitelson and Mauricio Pedroza. "I told him: 'It doesn't matter where you put me, I just want to win.' But one week later he told me: 'I am taking you to America with Panchito Hernandez.'"

            Blanco said that when he walked into Coapa for the first time back in 1988 he could see players such as Edu, Antonio Carlos Santos and Zague all training.

            "I told Angel Gonzalez: 'I am going to be better than all those who are here,'" The Tlatilco native said with tears in his eyes over the memory.

            Asked if he had any regrets over his long career, Blanco told Pedroza that he wished he would have had success in Spain, where he played with Valladolid from 2000-2002 until injuries ended his time in La Liga.

            "I wanted to be a success in Spain, that is my only regret," he said. "I knew I could have impact there, but the coach didn't see it that way and I didn't have the support I needed.

            The charismatic and often controversial former Mexico international played 120 games for El Tri. He decided to move into politics after he retired from the game, winning the election to become mayor of the town of Cuernavaca, a position he still holds.

            He said great players have succeeded him but none have reached the status of idol yet, although he sees potential for both Bayer Leverkusen's Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, LA Galaxy's Giovani dos Santos as well as Real Sociedad's Carlos Vela.

            "I love the way Giovani and Vela play but they have not reached their peak yet, they are not at 100 percent," he said. "They have ups and downs and a good player must consistent. They are young and they can pull it all together, put forth effort and work hard. They have great talent but they must maintain regularity and be consistent."

            The club legend and was unhappy he couldn't end his career at America, blaming sporting president Ricardo Pelaez for not letting him return. Now the veteran of three World Cups will get his wish, almost a year since he retired after the Copa MX final for Puebla against Chivas, which La Franja won.

            Las Aguilas have registered the 43-year-old Blanco with shirt No. 100 as it marks the 100 years of Club America for a the special farewell inside the Estadio Azteca. He is expected to play between 30 and 45 minutes.

            He added that he was "happy" to play in his final farewell match because he "had lost the illusion that he would be able to retire at America."

            He said a call from the directors at Las Aguilas this past November green-lighting the farewell party made him "as happy as a little kid."

            "I will tell you something, I had been asking America for this for a long time," he said. "I would have loved to have had my farewell match against Puebla or Santos, for whom I have so much fondness, but it worked out that I will play against Morelia."