The transfer market in Costa Rica is in full swing, the clubs are busy preparing for the next season, which will begin with the Closing Tournament 2025. Among the latest news, the Saints of Guápiles recently made headlines by signing defender Jaikel Medinaa seasoned player and four-time local football champion with Saprissa.
At 32, Medina has spent the last four seasons Zacapa. Faced with the possible disaffiliation of his former club due to financial problems affecting the Guatemalan first division, he chose to join the first club that made him an offer: Santos de Guápiles, which thus strengthens its squad with a quality player.
For Paté Centeno, the team’s coach, who already led Medina at Saprissa in 2019, Medina is a defender to rediscover. Indeed, he has had a difficult year in terms of regularity and matches played, having not been fielded since last September, when the club decided to release him to free up a place for a foreign player. Although he doesn’t arrive in the best physical condition, the team believes they can get him back to his best level.
Despite spending the last few years in Guatemala, Medina has built his career mainly in Costa Rica. After his rise to Uruguay’s Coronado in 2012, he played at Municipal Liberia until 2016, where his performances caught the attention of Saprissa, who he joined in 2016 and stayed for four years.
His period at Saprissa remains the most memorable of his career. During these four years, the defender was crowned champion of the first division tournament three times (2016, 2018 and 2020) and also contributed to the team’s victory in the Concacaf Champions League in 2019. Despite his status as a free player, Saprissa judged that he was not suitable for his plans, which led Santos to represent the best option for him.
Takeaways
- The Costa Rican football season is preparing with many movements on the transfer market.
- Jaikel Medina is a player with a wealth of experience, although he has gone through a difficult period recently.
- His association with coach Paté Centeno could promote his return to a competitive level.
In conclusion, could Medina’s return to the country be the key to its revival? The situation raises questions about how clubs can reintegrate struggling players and help them regain their potential. Redemption stories are common in football, and it will be interesting to follow this journey.
