‘A league without emotion’: Hugo Cuypers opens up on why he left the MLS for Monterrey and Mexican football

‘A league without emotion’: Hugo Cuypers opens up on why he left the MLS for Monterrey and Mexican football Hugo Cuypers has earned himself a first call up to the Belgian national team . The 29-year-old striker has been in fine form over the past few seasons, starting with his 51 goals for Gent in 90 games. In 2024 he left Belgian football to play in the MLS with Chicago Fire. Again, Cuypers was prolific, scoring 44 goals in 82 games. Yet this past summer he left the MLS and, in an interview with HLN , was hardly the biggest advocate for the league. Of the league, Cuypers said ‘ A league without emotion. Until the playoffs, it feels like you are only playing friendly matches. Whether you win or lose, it doesn’t really matter. Football is not a priority there ‘. With his side then deciding to sign Polish legend Robert Lewandowski to start the season, clearly Cuypers felt that his time was up. However, Cuypers could have stayed in the league if he wanted to. He revealed that there were offers from other MLS clubs to keep him in the league, hardly surprising given his record for Chicago Fire. However, Cuypers did not enjoy the league or the mindset of the owners. The 29-year-old said ‘ You have 25 clubs there that believe they will become champions because they have rich owners. But actually, they don’t even know how to win. Look, I struggled with that American mindset. That is why I turned down all offers from MLS clubs this summer ‘. What the MLS was to Cuypers is clearly contrasted starkly by his new club. Cuypers crossed the border into Mexico to join Monterrey, where he already has nine goals in 20 games. Unlike the MLS, Cuypers feels that football is a real priority in Mexico. Passionate fans and the level is what Cuypers decided was more important than what the MLS could offer, while also giving him a greater chance of making it into the Belgian set up under Mark van Bommel. That decision has certainly paid off for the striker. Speaking on his experience so far in Mexico, Cuypers said ‘ The atmosphere is incredible. There are a lot of red cards – they really go in recklessly over there – but the general level is better than in America ‘. GBeNeFN  |  Ben Jackson