Anselmi Breaks Silence on Cruz Azul Exit - "I Wasn't Unfaithful"

Cruz Azul fans were happy to have Martin Anselmi as the head coach of the team last year, but his departure left a sour taste in the fans. The Argentine manager left the club in January 2025 to join FC Porto.

The negotiations with Porto reportedly occurred during his tenure as Cruz Azul manager, which reportedly frustrated the club.

Anselmi signed a two-year contract with the Portuguese club, but after a third-place finish in the Liga Portugal and elimination in the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup led to his sacking last month.

After his departure, rumors suggested his return to Liga MX but at the moment, the manager is not coaching any team. Cruz Azul hired Nicolas Larcamon in June and has coached six games so far.

Anselmi's exit caused controversy among Cruz Azul fans, and he tried to show compassion to the club during his FC Porto presentation in January. His words that showed love to the club divided opinions among Cruz Azul fans.

"It's a connection I will have with me forever. I've made a decision that will help me and my career. I was totally transparent to the club [about my future]..."

Martin Anselmi

During his presentation, Anselmi also suggested the club did not allow him to say goodbye in a press conference in Mexico and that Cruz Azul defamed him.

Now, months after the relationship between manager and club has appeared to be broken, Anselmi speaks about leaving Cruz Azul earlier this year. In an interview with Juan Pablo Varsky, Anselmi breaks his silence on his controversial departure from the club.

Martin Anselmi Does Not Believe to be Unfaithful to Cruz Azul

In a short clip of the interview with Juan Pablo Varsky, Anselmi insists that he was not unfaithful to Cruz Azul despite many fans believing he was. Anselmi goes on to explain that the FC Porto opportunity was something he couldn't reject, hence his departure.

" I wasn’t unfaithful [to Cruz Azul], but I was no longer in the best place at the club. It was a challenge [FC Porto] that I had to say 'yes'. I could be a villain going to Porto, but not in the way I did it. The way I did it, no."

Martin Anselmi

Cruz Azul fans are currently divided with the start of Nicolas Lacramon, who won three games, two draws, and one loss, which a 7-0 loss against Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup.

Anselmi's time at Cruz Azul was short but with high potential, as the team performed highly in the league.

Cruz Azul finished third in the 2024 Clausura with 33 points and reached the final under Anselmi but lost 2-1 on aggregate to Club America.

In the 2024 Apertura, Cruz Azul finished 1st in the league with 42 points but lost 4-3 on aggregate to America in the semifinals.