José Juan Macías has officially terminated his contract with Santos Laguna, marking the end of his tenure with the Liga MX team after facing persistent injury challenges. The announcement came on February 11, 2025, through the club's official communication, which expressed gratitude for Macías’ efforts and wished him success in future endeavors.
Macías, who joined Santos Laguna for the Apertura 2024 season, entered the club with high hopes, aiming to recapture the impressive form he displayed during his time with Club León, where he was the top Mexican scorer of the year back in 2019. Unfortunately, since then, his career has been marred by injuries, preventing him from gaining any significant momentum.
Since his arrival, Macías only managed to accumulate 73 minutes of playing time across five matches, scoring once during his brief stint. His performance was cut short after he sustained multiple injuries, including meniscus issues and other muscle-related setbacks, which limited his contributions.
Despite showing flashes of talent, including scoring against Pachuca on January 20, 2025—his first goal in nearly three years—Macías was unable to maintain fitness. Unfortunately, the promising forward was struck down again with another injury shortly after, leading to Santos Laguna's decision to move on from him.
Fernando Ortiz, the current coach of Santos, expressed preference for other forwards, choosing to work with players such as Bruno Barticciotto, ‘Choco’ Lozano, Santiago Muñoz, and Tahiel Jiménez instead. This shift left Macías without a position on the squad, fueling the club's decision for contractual termination.
Macías’ injury woes began accumulating after he initially returned to Chivas for the 2020 season. He already had five goals before the pandemic halted the league, but upon its resumption, he sustained severe damage, including three major injuries over the years. His most alarming setback was the complete rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which saw him miss significant playing time, resulting in almost 60 games lost across different clubs.
After struggling significantly at Getafe, where he had minimal impact and played just eight matches, Macías returned to Chivas before making his way to Santos. His career arc seemed promising, but since then, he has struggled consistently with fitness and form, leading observers to worry about his future prospects.
“Club Santos Laguna comunica la conclusión anticipada del contrato con el jugador José Juan Macías. El Club le agradece por su esfuerzo y le desea éxito en su futuro profesional,” read the brief release from the Salvadoran club, which highlights the mutual decision between the player and organization as they attempt to navigate his injury struggles.
Despite being viewed as the future star of the Mexican forward line at one point, JJ Macías now finds himself as a free agent, left to contemplate his next steps. Several sources indicate he may take time off to properly rehabilitate and recover before attempting to return to professional soccer. For now, the road to recovery will dictate his path forward amid the competitive market of Mexican football.
The primary concern remains whether this break will allow him to reset and reclaim some of the promise many saw. After once dining with the legendary Hugo Sánchez and proclaiming his ambitions to rewrite scoring records, JJ Macías is now at a crossroads as he seeks to revive his professional career.
With Santos Laguna currently struggling at the bottom of the Liga MX table without any points after six matches, his absence is notable. His situation reflects not just his personal challenges but broader questions about the club’s direction, especially as they prepare for their next match against Mazatlán set for February 14, 2025.
Macías’ potential return to form could reignite his status within the national team, but for now, his focus must be on healing and returning to the pitch after years of battling injuries.