In Chaves, in Portugal’s north, Néstor Araujo has begun another European chapter. The Mexican centre-back has left Liga MX and joined second-tier Chaves, taking on a promotion project before considering the end of his playing career.
The news from the club
Araujo arrives with the stated aim of helping Chaves reach Portugal’s top flight and, if promotion is achieved, establish themselves there. The club’s project is led by Mexican figures and also includes a couple of players with links to Atlético La Paz.
The defender said difficult spells in recent years had not weakened his desire to compete. He described football, like any profession, as a path containing hard days, months and even years, but said persistence and the refusal to give up had kept him moving forward.
He sees his experience as a possible asset for Chaves as they pursue a place in the Primeira Liga. “This is a major project, with Mexican people in the boardroom and a pair of Atlético La Paz players,” Araujo said. “The idea is to help Chaves move from the second division into the first and remain there.”
A lesson carried from Mexico City
The move follows a spell at Club América in which Araujo collected trophies but also faced sharp scrutiny for mistakes on the pitch. He said he understood why the club’s supporters reacted strongly, given the scale and expectations of América.
“América is a huge club and you need a thick skin there,” he said. “I have always respected the supporters. Their criticism was fair, and if I were in their position I would have been angry about a couple of those errors too.”
Araujo acknowledged that he would have liked a larger role and more opportunities to contribute during his time with the Mexico City side. Still, he said he left appreciative of the treatment he received from the club, naming Emilio Azcárraga and sporting president Santiago Baños among those he thanked.
He accepts that some chances were missed and that the criticism attached to those moments had merit. For Araujo, however, the lasting value of his América years is the lesson: recognise the errors, learn from them and continue on to the next challenge in Portugal.
SEO Title: Néstor Araujo joins Chaves seeking promotion in Portugal
Meta Description: Mexican defender Néstor Araujo has joined Chaves in Portugal’s second division, targeting promotion after his title-winning but challenging spell at Club América.
