Club América is one of the most important and popular teams in Mexico, and also has the economic power to sign both national and international players. However, there were cases in which the club had to accept a no as an answer.

We decided to make a list with some of the players who chose to continue their careers in other clubs before joining the Mexican side in the Liga MX, whether for personal or financial issues. You will find many world stars on this list.

These players are from different parts of the world. Without going any further, here are 15 players who rejected Club América.

15. Luis Romo

This is one of the most recent cases. After playing a couple of season for Querétaro, Romo was in América’s plans as a new signing for 2020.

Manager Miguel Herrera even told the press that the club tried to make a deal to get the Gallos Blancos' player. However, the defenseman accepted an offer from Cruz Azul, where he quickly became a valuable member for the team.

14. Pablo Mouche

He had had a very good 2011/2012 season playing for Boca Juniors in Argentina, showing all his skills and his ability to score goals. Ricardo Peláez, the Mexican side’s sporting director by the time, and Miguel Herrera travelled to Argentina to see him play.

Not everything finished as América wanted. The club officials never reached a deal and Mouche, sick of waiting, decided to sign for Kayserispor of Turkey.

13. Iván Marcone

América’s manager Miguel Herrera needed a defensive midfielder to replace Guido Rodríguez, who had been transferred to Real Betis of Spain. The name of Marcone crossed his mind, as the Argentine had played in the Liga MX a few years ago.

However, negotiations between the clubs were not easy. Boca did not want to sell the former Cruz Azul midfielder did not want to return to Mexico.

12. Jackson Martínez

In 2009, Jaguares tried to sign the Colombian forward, who had had had an outstanding season with Independiente Medellín of Colombia. América was one of many other teams that wanted Martínez for their squads.

Finally, the player moved to Mexico, but chose Chiapas over the “Águilas”. Martínez continued with his good performances in the Liga MX and, a few years later, he was transferred to Porto of Portugal.

11. Guillermo Barros Schelotto

The Los Angeles Galaxy manager was close to sign for América during his career as a soccer player. The Mexican side and Boca Juniors had reached a deal for the former winger’s transfer, but was Barros Schelotto who decided to stay in Argentina to fight for a place in the first team.

After finishing his contract with Boca in 2007, he moved to the MLS, where he signed for Columbus Crew.

10. Avilés Hurtado

The Colombian forward was in América’s plans more than once. During the transfer window before the 2017 Apertura Tournament, the “Águilas” showed interest in him again. He was playing for Xolos of Tijuana by the time.

Negotiations did not finish as expected and Hurtado accepted an offer from Monterrey. In the first season with his new club, the forward was one of the tournament’s top scorers with Mauro Boselli.

9. Lucas Pratto

América was one of the team that tried to sign Pratto before he joined River Plate of Argentina. In 2018, while he was still playing for Sao Paulo of Brazil, the team from Coapa wanted Pratto to be the new man in attack for the Clausura Tournament.

However, the forward rejected an attractive offer from América and dismissed the chance to play in the Liga MX. He finally signed for River, where he had the chance to play and stay close to his daughter.

8. Mauro Boselli

Boselli is considered one of the best foreign strikers to have played in the Liga MX in recent years. He helped León to win two domestic league titles and he finished as the tournament’s top scorer three times.

América wanted him on its squad practically after his first season in Mexico, but the Argentine striker had no intention of leaving the club. Today, Boselli plays for Corinthians of Brazil.

7. Juan Román Riquelme

After his outstanding performances in Boca Juniors, Riquelme was transferred to Barcelona of Spain, but with Louis van Gaal as manager, the playmaker did not have many minutes on the pitch.

Looking for new challenges, Riquelme’s agent started to offer the player to different clubs, including América. However, the negotiations were not easy and the midfielder finally accepted an offer from Villarreal.

6. Álex Aguinaga

The former Ecuadorian player was a Necaxa icon and one of the best players in the Liga MX during his stint in Mexico. But not many people remember how close he was to sign for América. In fact, he even was pleased with the conditions.

Years later, Aguinaga revealed that Ernesto Zedillo, Mexico’s president by the time, asked him to stay at Nexaca. The player rejected América’s offer and continued in the team where later he would win three league titles.

5. José Saturnino Cardozo

A legend for Toluca! The Paraguayan still has many scoring records in the Mexican league, although it's been 15 years ago since his retirement. After a few seasons with the “Diablos Rojos”, América tried to convince him to join the team.

Cardozo rejected the offer and decided to stay at his beloved club, where he made history. It was not until his last years as a professional player that he left Toluca.

4. Landon Donovan

Which team would not like to have a player like Landon Donovan in its squad? América showed interest in one of the best players in United States’ history, in what could have been one of the most surprising signings in Mexican soccer.

However, Donovan rejected América's offer to have a second opportunity in the English Premier League with Everton, in 2012. Six years later, he arrived at Mexico to join León.

3. Diego Forlán

The former Uruguayan international was tempted by many clubs to join their squads while he was playing for Inter of Porto Alegre. América was among those teams and even the player admitted publicly that both América and Cruz Azul talked to him about a possible transfer.

But Forlán did not want to play in the Liga MX, saying that he would prefer to join the MLS instead. Negotiations did not start as planned and he decided to move to China, where he signed for the Cerezo Osaka in 2014.

2. Kaká

The Brazilian superstar was close to join the list of world-class players who have competed in the Liga MX. His contract with AC Milan ended in 2014 and he instantly received offers from América and Monterrey. But Kaká made it clear that he wanted to play in the MLS.

His wish came true as he signed for the Orlando City FC. He was loaned to his beloved Sao Paulo to play one more season in Brazil and then, in 2015, he competed in the MLS.

1. Romário

América tried to sign Romário in two opportunities, but in none of them could reach an agreement. The first time was in 1999, when the forward was playing for Flamengo of Brazil. At that time, he rejected a millionaire contract from the Mexican team.

Two years later, the “Águilas” attacked again. Although the offer was never revealed, Romário decided to stay at Vasco da Gama to show his commitment to his club and teammates.